The Future of Secure Data Sharing

What is Multi-Party Computation (MPC)?

Multi-Party Computation (MPC) is a cryptographic method that allows multiple parties to jointly analyze data while keeping their individual inputs private. This ensures that companies can collaborate securely without exposing sensitive business information.

MPC for “Truer” End-Demand

Demand forecasting in semiconductor supply chains is challenging due to high product complexity, diverse end markets, long lead times, and fragmented data. As the most cost-effective lever to reduce costs and gain strategic market advantages, better forecasting also strengthens resilience, mitigates the bullwhip effect, and helps prevent chip shortages.

MPC enables companies to securely aggregate demand signals across partners, enhancing transparency and decision-making without exposing sensitive information.

How to Implement MPC in Supply Chains

Scalable and Secure Infrastructure: MPC operates within trusted digital ecosystems to ensure security, efficiency, and compliance.

Secret Sharing: Each participant encrypts and distributes their demand data into secure shares.

Secure Computation: The data is jointly processed without exposing individual inputs.

Result Reconstruction: Computed outputs are reassembled into actionable insights while maintaining data confidentiality.

Opaix’ Role in MPC and Data Spaces

We research & develop MPC solutions specifically for supply chains containing semiconductors and are enabling more secure and efficient demand forecasting e.g., in several EU- and German-funded projects:

  • SC4EU Integration: Opaix has deployed an MPC analyzer (node) for secure data collaboration within this EU-funded project.
  • GAIA-X 4 PLC: We are contributing to trusted European data-sharing infrastructure by enabling partners to leverage ontologies and the Digital Reference (e.g., in Virtual Reality).
  • Semiconductor-X: We are supporting on advancing data spaces for transparent, resilient & sustainable semiconductor supply chains. In addition, we are combining MPC technology with the Eclipse Data Space Connector (EDC) for seamless & secure data sharing.

Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC):
A Technical Overview

MPC allows secure, privacy-preserving computations between multiple parties. Key components include:

  • Secret Sharing: Divides data into encrypted shares.
  • Computational Protocols: Methods like Shamir’s Secret Sharing and Yao’s Garbled Circuits for secure processing.
  • Privacy Protection:
    • Homomorphic Encryption: Operates on encrypted data.
    • Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs): Verifies correctness without revealing data.

Roles in MPC:

  • Data Providers: Contribute encrypted data.
  • Computing Nodes: Perform the computations on encrypted shares.
  • Result Aggregators: Combine results without exposing individual data.

Further Infos & Use Cases for Multi-Party Computation:

  • Accessible Privacy-Preserving Web-Based Data Analysis for Assessing and Addressing Economic Inequalities and Gender Pay Gaps
  • More information regarding MPC by IEEE (link)
  • Safe-Deed funded project: More infos on business applications for data sharing and MPC (link)

Want to learn more about MPC in semiconductor supply chains?

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