Contact info

·      Mobil: +47 926 99 271

·      E-post: frode.van.der.laak@ntnu.no

·      LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/frodevanderlaak   

Academic Background

PhD in Blockchain and DePin Technology, King’s College London

MSc in System and Software Security, University of Oxford

Postgraduate Diploma, University of Sunderland

Current Role

Post-doctoral Researcher at the Norwegian Centre for Cybersecurity in Critical Sectors (NORCICS), responsible for building several solutions within:

Infrastructure: Layer 1, Smart Contract, Zero Trust, Access Control, (Support: DORA, NIS2, GDPR, AI Act, ISO 27001/NIST, NSM, SABSA, TOGAF) and DIGITAL TWINS

Key Strengths

• AI and Machine Learning Expertise: The company specialises in integrating AI engines for predictive analytics, decision-making, and system optimisation.
• Compliance-as-Code Pioneering: Embeds complex legal frameworks (EU AI Act, GDPR, NIS2, DORA) directly into executable software architecture, replacing static audits with continuous, automated codebase enforcement.
• Layer 1 Ledger Engineering: Designs, optimises, and deploys high-throughput Layer 1 blockchain networks and smart contract ecosystems tailored for critical sectors like defence, finance, and healthcare.
• Zero Trust & RBAC Systems: Implements cryptographic, granular Role-Based Access Control and micro-segmented zero-trust networks to guarantee tamper-proof data containment during multi-tenant data operations.
• Hybrid Decentralised Storage: Integrates high-volume off-chain storage matrices (IPFS) with on-chain cryptographic metadata ledgers to ensure absolute data provenance, speed, and privacy.
• Privacy-Preserving AI & Federated Analytics: Architectures of decentralised data engines capable of running federated machine learning models across international nodes without transferring raw data assets.
• System Interoperability & API Architecture: Masters the design of scalable enterprise integrations, utilising tools like Swagger/OpenAPI to connect legacy infrastructure with decentralised Web3 frameworks seamlessly.
• Security-by-Design Framework Mapping: Translates abstract enterprise risks and architectural models (SABSA, TOGAF, ISO 27001, NSM) directly into programmatic, cryptographic barriers.

Notable Achievements

• International Research Excellence: Awarded the prestigious 'Best Researcher of the Year' at the International Congress for Research Excellence 2024 (ICRE 24).
• Web3 & Fintech Pioneer: Winner of the Nordic Innovation Award for 'Best AI & Web3 Fintech'.
• Prolific Tech Innovator: Holds over 20 patents spanning Mobile, AI, Blockchain, and 5G technologies.
• Horizon Europe Infrastructure Leader: Pioneered the Compliance-as-Code and decentralised trust data layers for multi-million Euro EU Horizon consortiums (COMFORTage, DigiWell, and NEWSROOM) (DIGIWELL.
• Global Scale Impact: Successfully masterminded the Web3 migration of Swifin, engineering a financial SuperApp ecosystem impacting millions of users across Africa.
• Global Startup Recognition: Named a finalist at the Global Startup Awards in Istanbul for engineering ultra-fast, high-throughput transaction ledger protocols.
• Elite Academic Pedigree: Alumnus of the world's leading institutions, holding a PhD in Blockchain and DePin Technology from King’s College London and an MSc in System and Software Security from the University of Oxford.

Some Projects

DigiWell (Horizon Europe Healthcare & AI Consortium) 

• Infrastructure: Co-designed a cross-border, EHDS-aligned decentralised data trust layer combining private Layer 1 Proof-of-Authority ledger networks and encrypted off-chain IPFS storage arrays (DIGIWELL 
• Core Engine: Architected the privacy-preserving Compliance-as-Code governance engine and automated multi-country federated learning infrastructure across international clinical nodes (DIGIWELL
• Regulatory Impact: Built a programmable, on-chain Dynamic Consent Architecture using DIDs and verifiable credentials to automate age-appropriate minor assent and trigger instant cryptographic data deletion under GDPR (DIGIWELL

NEWSROOM (Cyber Threat Intelligence Network)

• Infrastructure: Engineered a secure, scalable Layer 1 ledger custom-built for zero-trust Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) storage and cross-organisational data sharing.
• Core Engine: Programmed the native smart contract layer to enforce immutable, on-chain Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) across federated threat defence networks.
• Regulatory Impact: Maximised enterprise interoperability by mapping raw CTI ledger queries into developer-ready REST frameworks using fully documented Swagger/OpenAPI specifications.

COMFORTage (Decentralised Patient Data Management)

• Infrastructure: Designed the full-stack Web3 blueprint anchoring clinical health records to the Reltime Mainnet Layer 1 blockchain infrastructure.
• Core Engine: Built a hybrid data ingest engine linking on-chain cryptographic metadata hashes to decentralised off-chain medical file silos using IPFS Content Identifiers (CIDs).
• Regulatory Impact: Programmed an automated on-chain audit trail that dynamically displays interface privileges and logs cryptographic verification events based on the user's explicit smart contract role.

Reltime L1 Blockchain Ecosystem

• Infrastructure: Core system architect of the Reltime Layer 1 blockchain network, natively engineered to achieve global transaction scaling with massive efficiency.
• Core Engine: Built and shipped a robust vertical service layer hosting over 300 production-ready APIs for immediate enterprise and institutional integration.
• Regulatory Impact: Modelled an energy-frugal "Proof of Assent" consensus algorithm consuming only 0.00012 kWh per transaction, perfectly fulfilling European Green Deal digital sustainability requirements (DIGIWELL)

Real-World Asset (RWA) Tokenisation Platforms

• Infrastructure: Engineered secure minting and ownership ledgers designed for the fractional tokenisation of high-value physical assets, including property and precious metals.
• Core Engine: Authored regulatory-compliant smart contract logic to automate secondary market liquidity, compliance checks, split yields, and fractional governance rules.
• Regulatory Impact: Removed global market friction by establishing unalterable, transparent data lines that eliminate title disputes and counterfeit risks.