A consortium led by the AIT Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics at the Center for Health and Bioresources has won EIC Pathfinder Challenge funding to use DNA as a data storage device. The group plans to develop a low-cost, energy-efficient and fast data storage medium capable of writing, processing, storing and retrieving DNA-based data. The goal is to find a more efficient and durable solution for storing digital data. The project is scheduled to start on 1.9.2023.
In order to successfully implement the project, the experts of the consortium will need the entire expertise in the field of DNA-based technologies, such as multiplex assays, DNA nanotechnology, bioinformatics and synthetic biology. The AIT will be involved in almost all areas of the project and are mainly responsible for developing the hardware to store the data in bacteria and the assays to store the data in DNA. The other partners are responsible for synthetic biology, synthesis of very long DNA fragments, software development, biophysical evaluations and communication and commercialisation.
DNA drive
The new technology is based on simple and easily available hardware components and bacterial cells. It uses bacterial genetic mechanisms that have been evolutionarily optimised over billions of years, such as colour-sensitive genetic switches and DNA exchange processes. This enables the short-, medium- and long-term storage of DNA-based data.
Project coordinator Ivan Barisic, Competence Unit Molecular Diagnostics of the AIT Center for Health and Bioresources, leads the consortium of six partners from four EU countries and explains "The consortium plans to create a low-cost, energy-efficient and fast data carrier capable of writing, processing, storing and retrieving DNA-based data by 2027. To prove the feasibility, a large file (about 1 GB) of a molecular dynamics simulation will be encoded and stored in DNA." He continues "This step towards future technology, low-cost, energy-efficient and fast DNA-based data storage, has the potential to revolutionise the storage and sharing of large amounts of data."
The consortium has also started talks with the Vatican Museum to store their data in DNA. The EIC Pathfinder Challenge is a pioneering European Commission initiative that aims to foster collaboration between scientists, researchers, companies and other stakeholders in Europe's innovation ecosystem. It aims to develop breakthrough innovations and new technologies to address the global challenges of the future.
This step towards future technology, low-cost, energy-efficient and fast DNA-based data storage, has the potential to revolutionise the storage and exchange of big data.
EIC Pathfinder Challenge
The EIC Pathfinder Challenge is an initiative of the European Commission that aims to foster breakthrough innovations and new technologies through collaboration between researchers, companies and other stakeholders in Europe's innovation ecosystem. The Challenges are specific calls for proposals that aim to find innovative solutions to specific challenges by providing targeted financial support and funding. The EIC Pathfinder Challenge "DNA-based digital data storage" focuses on the use of DNA as data storage to find a more efficient and durable solution for storing digital data.