Research
We ground each project in independent science — partnering with universities and inspection bodies so that what we back is tested, measured and verified before it scales.
How We Validate
We work with universities and specialist laboratories to test the technologies we back — from soil-data transmission at McGill Agtech to solar-paint characterisation at the University of Granada.
Performance is verified by independent inspection bodies. Voltskin's coating was assessed by TÜV SÜD Iberia with no deviations recorded before any efficiency figure was published.
Each project advances on measured results — recorded efficiencies, qualification firings and transmission depths — not projections, so partners and funders can rely on what we report.
The Evidence
11%+
Energy-conversion efficiency
Recorded for Voltskin's nanomaterial coating by the Department of Analytical Chemistry at the University of Granada.
1.25 m
Soil-data transmission depth
Substrata retrieves sensor data from more than ten times the depth of existing wireless systems.
Orbital
Qualification completed
Boreal Launch completed orbital-scale qualification of its RE-201/2 hybrid engine in December 2021.
0
Deviations on inspection
TÜV SÜD Iberia assessed Voltskin's gel samples and collector and returned a satisfactory result.
Sovereign AI · Published Research
A thirteen-part body of technical research underpinning our Sovereign AI programme. It gives export-dependent developing nations a precise, vendor-neutral framework for keeping control of their data, compute, operations and governance — released in full under an open licence rather than held behind a paywall or a consultant.
Establishes the purpose, scope and methodology of the series and defines the terminology applied across all twelve technical papers, including the four-plane sovereignty framework and the five-level maturity model. Serves as the definitive registry of the DOI and ISBN identifiers assigned to each publication.
Proposes a precise, layered definition of digital sovereignty and a reference framework distinguishing four dimensions of control: data, compute, operations and governance. Examines how Gaia-X, the EU Cloud Sovereignty Framework and India's data-localization policies map unevenly onto these planes. Six case studies.
Catalogues the technical patterns available for jurisdictional control, from regional isolation through confidential computing with local key management. Its central distinction is between marketed sovereignty claims and sovereignty that is architecturally verifiable. Eleven case studies.
Separates the regulatory obligation from the technical mechanisms that implement it: encryption key placement, tokenization, network egress control and metadata leakage. Analyses regulation in the EU, China and India across ten implementation scenarios.
Compares centralized, federated and decentralized (self-sovereign) models for national digital identity, and examines the EU's eIDAS 2.0 framework alongside eleven further case studies. Proposes a reference design for issuing, presenting and revoking verifiable credentials.
Defines compute sovereignty as guaranteed, uninterruptible access to the processors that run a nation's digital and AI infrastructure. Presents a three-dimensional exposure framework tested across fourteen case studies drawn from the Gulf states, India and the European Union.
Argues that interoperability and open standards are a precondition for sovereignty at scale, not in tension with it. Identifies which layers of the stack should standardise and which are legitimate points of national differentiation.
Addresses continuity when the cooperation of a foreign vendor, partner state or standards body is withdrawn. Introduces a threat taxonomy and the “sovereignty drill” — a red-team framework for testing these assumptions before they are tested for you. Fourteen case studies.
Designs for systems that must remain defensible even against adversaries who may include the vendors and partner states they depend on. Builds a zero-trust architecture aligned to NIST SP 800-207 with sovereignty-specific controls. Fourteen case studies, eight objections addressed.
Examines how a central bank retains technical sovereignty while deploying state-issued digital money. Presents a reference architecture covering the core ledger, offline transactions and privacy, with the EU digital euro as principal case study among fifteen further examples.
Argues that sovereignty must be enforced through the contract as well as the architecture. Covers vendor qualification criteria, exit-strategy requirements, procurement vehicle design and oversight structures, across sixteen case studies.
Reviews the lawful transfer mechanisms in current use — adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses and emerging data-space treaties — and proposes technical systems that enforce them automatically rather than case by case. Seventeen case studies.
The capstone paper, consolidating the preceding eleven into a single reference architecture organised around the four planes, and proposing a sequencing roadmap that prioritises investment by risk-reduction efficiency. Seventeen case studies, eight objections answered.
All thirteen publications are released under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence and may be quoted, redistributed and built upon, including commercially, provided the author is credited.
Hosting Institution
Hosting institution for the Sovereign Digital Infrastructure Series and the Foundation's technical research programme.
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