According to the committee, over the past 25 years the AES has become 'an intrinsic part of everyday life' in digital society. Thanks to this algorithm, based on 'profound research on the mathematical and algorithmic foundations of cryptography,' as the committee describes it, 'our money stays in our bank accounts, our medical records remain private, and our messages only reach the people we intend.'
The committee also praised Daemen and Rijmen's decision to make their algorithm fully open-source. This enabled global standardisation and ensured transparency within the cryptographic community. The system is now taught in virtually every computer security course and can be freely examined for potential vulnerabilities.
About the Frontiers of Knowledge Awards
The Frontiers of Knowledge Awards are prizes, worth €400,000, given to researchers who have done groundbreaking work. This includes work that expands our understanding of the world, opens up new fields of research, or connects different disciplines. No fewer than 31 winners of this award have gone on to receive a Nobel Prize.