Linksight Joins Breaking Barriers

We are strengthening our AI position with the help of Breaking Barriers! In this article, Martine talks about our organization, ambitions, and how Breaking Barriers contributes to them.

There are enormous opportunities in collaborative data analysis, but how do you do that safely? This was the starting point for Martine van de Gaar and Maarten Everts to develop applications of encryption technology at TNO. In 2021, this led to the creation of Linksight: software that enables organizations to collaborate on data without having to share that data. Linksight is now used by hospitals, general practitioner centers, health insurers, and municipalities.

A Highway for AI Models

“For many people, encryption technology sounds like some kind of magic,” Martine explains. “But with our software, you don’t need to be a magician or tech expert to collaborate safely on data. The data stays with you and you set the terms. For example, which data an AI model may use, for what period, or for what purpose. This way, organizations gain important insights while maintaining their data sovereignty.”

At birthday parties, she likes to use a metaphor: “Imagine if every car brand had to build its own road network for testing. You’d end up with a tangle of separate roads, without standardization and without safety. That’s how it works for AI developers too. We build the road network: the highways, traffic signs, and rules. AI developers can then safely drive on them.”

There are plenty of practical examples: “Take waiting lists in healthcare: hospitals, general practitioners, and home care organizations want to know how many unique patients in a region are waiting for treatment. You can’t just share that data with each other. Thanks to Linksight, you can see the number of unique people waiting, without the underlying data becoming visible.”

Scaling and Certifying

Linksight starts with two clear goals within Breaking Barriers. The first goal is new functionality: enabling AI models to work with both horizontally and vertically partitioned data, so patterns become visible between regions and within a single organization or chain. “We want to have that functionality fully ready by the end of the program,” says Martine.

Additionally, Linksight is working on the commercial side of the business. “We’re researching which segments are most promising and how best to reach them,” she explains. “This should lead to a structural go-to-market approach that allows us to scale faster and smarter, for example through a partner network.”

An Important Role in the AI Ecosystem

In Breaking Barriers, Martine found a like-minded partner. “There’s a lot of attention for subsidies and standalone AI projects, but much less for the ecosystem needed for AI to truly succeed,” she notes. “Although we use AI ourselves, our software is primarily an enabler for responsible AI applications. It’s great that Breaking Barriers understands that and helps us grow within that ecosystem.”

All Data at the Source

Martine has a clear vision for the future. “Everyone’s data stays at the source. Not just in the Netherlands, but also in Europe and far beyond. Some parties currently have so much power, simply because they own so much data. That’s irresponsible. Organizations and individuals must become data sovereign again: that’s what we stand for and what we’re working towards. Breaking Barriers brings us one step closer.”

Source: AIC4NL