Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DATANA (DNA Data Storage Technology for a Sustainable Digital Future)
Reporting period: 2022-05-01 to 2023-04-30
The DATANA project aims to provide a sustainable solution for the emerging problem of global data storage capacity and data safety. Traditional data storage media are not suitable to store the exponentially increasing amount of data generated, due to their inherent technical limitations, such as the requirement for space and maintenance. DNA provides a sustainable alternative to traditional storage media, as it allows for vastly more efficient and safer data storage, requiring minimal maintenance to preserve the data for hundreds of years.
Unfortunately, due to predominantly external reasons (market conditions, supply chain bottlenecks, COVID-19, war), we experienced substantial delays in several tasks (supply of necessary equipment and materials) and a project extension has been applied for and granted.
In the last reporting period, we have made major progress with R&D and particularly on the commercialization and business development fronts. We attended several conferences and workshops (delegation to Dallas, EEN meeting, EIC Summit, COMPETO workshop) and trade fairs (BIO International 2022, CES 2023) in the previous reporting period, where we showcased our project and technology. We conducted the first case study on commercializing the technology in the digital asset custody market in cooperation with Bitstamp, a leading global crypto exchange. We are in talks with several institutional and private investors and potential customers in the future, including regarding potential additional commercialization case studies. We formed a strong 6-member partnership consisting of 3 universities and 3 SMEs as the basis for an EU DNA Data Storage consortium tackling big data storage and addressing the broader DNA Data Storage process.
Detailed progress on individual tasks and work packages is described in their corresponding intermediate deliverables (see Deliverables, Ethics, DMP, Other Reports tab), as agreed upon with the Project Officer.
In parallel to the technical progress, we have made great strides on the business development and commercialization front. We have attended several high-level events and fairs and will continue to do so. We have gathered very encouraging feedback and very high interest from different stakeholders, including potential buyers, partners, and investors. We started cooperating with several strong EU academic and industry entities in the genomics/DNA data storage space to advance the EU's presence in the global DNA data storage space.
Furthermore, we have successfully submitted two comprehensive patent applications at the EU level covering the complete DATANA platform with possible extensions (example embodiments) covering applications in peripheral industries to data storage (e.g. biochemistry, pharmacy, bioprinting). Both applications, along with 4 additional example embodiments were under review by the international search report committee. We are optimistic about obtaining a patent and have re-submitted two applications on the PCT level.