DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving

Project Information

DNAMIC

Grant agreement ID: 101115389

DOI

10.3030/101115389

EC signature date 21 June 2023

Start date 1 October 2023

End date 30 September 2026

Funded under

• The European Innovation Council (EIC)

Total cost

€ 2 437 522,50

EU contribution

€ 2 437 522,50

Coordinated by

UAB GENOMIKA
Lithuania

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DNAMIC (DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving)

Reporting period: 2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In an era where digital services are booming, the need for secure, long-term, and sustainable data storage has never been more critical. The DNAMIC (DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving) project is addressing this challenge. By harnessing the properties of DNA as a high-density, durable, and energy-efficient medium, DNAMIC aims to develop end-to-end solution for digital data storage, based on DNA.
DNAMIC's primary goal is to develop an autonomous DNA microfactory that handles the entire data archiving process—from encoding and synthesis to storage and decoding. This innovative solution adheres to the Open Archival Information System (OAIS) standards (ISO 14721), ensuring it meets the highest standards for digital resilience and sustainability. By aligning with EU priorities, DNAMIC offers a future-proof, eco-friendly alternative to traditional data centres, emphasising interoperability, standardisation, and user accessibility.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

One year into the project, DNAMIC has made significant progress. Our team of seven partners has defined the modular architecture and key technological components of the DNA microfactory. We've outlined the complete end-to-end DNA data storage workflow and begun developing and integrating these components into a prototype.
We are currently testing our approach with real-world digital data, including veterinary medical diagnostics, industrial non-destructive testing images, and patrimonial archives. Importantly, many of DNAMIC's processes rely on existing standards, which will facilitate the medium-term adoption of our solutions. These achievements will allow us to move to the next phase, where we will integrate all components into a unified, functional system.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Our work has already yielded groundbreaking results that could accelerate the adoption of DNA data storage. Key innovations include:
• A novel DNA encoding scheme compatible with disaster recovery.
• Cost-effective techniques for sequencing library preparation (reading back the data).
• The groundwork for a scalable, autonomous DNA microfactory.
We are in the process of securing intellectual property protection for these innovations and are committed to bringing them to the wider community through strategic exploitation plans.

Consortium members standing in front of the Microfactory being developed

DNA data storage laboratory at KTU (Kaunas University of Technology)