Acceptance speech: 18th Frontiers of Knowledge Awards in ICT

Acceptance speech by Vincent Rijmen, winner of the 2025 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Information and Communication Technologies, who was honored alongside Joan Daemen for the design of cryptographic technologies, and in particular “AES,” the algorithm that has become the international standard used in billions of connected devices around the world.

Rijmen reviews the evolution of cryptography from its restricted use by rulers, military forces and diplomats to its role as an essential tool for digital life. He highlights that advances in cryptology are built through a collective process of proposal, analysis and continuous improvement, emphasizing the value of open research, transparency and scientific rigor in developing increasingly secure systems.