Even before the AI boom, the world faced a crisis in data storage due to the explosive growth of digital content and IoT devices. Now, with generative AI models producing vast quantities of synthetic data, storage demands have reached unprecedented heights, straining existing infrastructure.
DNA storage offers a promising solution for secure, long-term data preservation. With stability spanning centuries or even millennia, it stands apart from conventional technologies. These high-density storage solutions could revolutionise both scientific and commercial applications, potentially reducing the environmental impact of data storage due to their long-term stability and potential for room-temperature storage.
Genomika, a biotech company founded in 2019 in Kaunas, Lithuania, specialises in applied genomics and DNA data storage solutions. Co-founded by Dr. Lukas Žemaitis and Ignas Galminas, an alumnus of Vytautas Magnus University, recognised for an innovative, interdisciplinary approach to science and technology.
The company has joined the DiDAX project, pledging €600,000 toward a total project budget of €5.2 million. As part of broader efforts to develop durable, high-density data storage solutions, Genomika will focus on advancing DNA reading and encryption methods.
To date, Genomika has secured approximately $5.47 million in funding, including a recent €5 million investment from the EU, Switzerland, and the UK. With total grant funding exceeding €10 million across its DNA data storage projects, Genomika has established itself as a key industry player.
€5.2M consortium tackles next-gen data storage
Genomika has joined the DiDAX project, an international research consortium developing practical DNA-based data storage systems. The project runs from November 2023 to November 2027 and is one of the largest in its field. Genomika’s role in the project is to advance DNA reading and encryption methods, a crucial aspect of the project’s objective to develop scalable, reliable, and high-throughput approaches for DNA data storage.
The DiDAX project is part of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge, addressing the sustainability limits of current digital storage technologies, particularly their high energy consumption, reliance on rare and toxic materials, and limited data integrity. DNA-based storage offers exponentially greater information density and millennial-scale stability, making it ideal for archival purposes. The consortium aims to develop scalable, reliable, high-throughput approaches for DNA data storage, addressing cost, speed, and efficiency challenges. Their goals include expanding applications from archival storage to in vivo sensing and cryptography, while fostering European innovation in this field.
Unlike conventional methods, DNA-based storage provides secure, long-term data preservation. Its centuries-long stability sets it apart from hard drives and magnetic tape, which require frequent updates or replacements. While capacity improvements continue, DNA storage already leads in resilience and protection, ideal for preserving critical information for future access.
Genomika’s core technology centres on the DNA Microfactory for Autonomous Archiving (DNAMIC) project. Their unique selling proposition is an autonomous, low-energy micro factory for end-to-end DNA data archiving—from encoding and synthesis to storage, quality control, and sequencing. The company has demonstrated its capabilities by encoding the Lithuanian national anthem and historic photographs into DNA while developing high-performance ultra-short DNA sequencing protocols.
Genomika’s work with DiDAX builds on its leadership of an EU-funded Pathfinder initiative developing hardware components for end-to-end DNA data storage systems. The combined grant funding now exceeds €10 million, cementing Genomika’s position in this emerging field.
The DiDAX project unites leading research institutions, including the Technion — Israel Institute of Technology, Technical University of Munich, TU Delft, ETH Zurich, and the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology. Genomika’s inclusion as one of just two commercial enterprises in this academic consortium reflects the research’s cutting-edge nature and its specialised knowledge in DNA reading technologies.
Behind Genomika: pushing DNA storage technology forward
While Genomika’s initial Pathfinder project focused on hardware development, their role in DiDAX centres on optimising the complete system. The consortium aims to create more efficient DNA synthesis methods, develop room-temperature storage solutions that eliminate energy-intensive freezers, and enhance data encryption protocols.
“Our participation in DiDAX represents the natural evolution of our work in DNA data storage,” said Robertas Skliaustas, head of business development at Genomika. “While our first project focused on building the foundation of DNA storage hardware, this collaboration allows us to optimise the software components and develop practical applications for diverse environments.”
Genomika is developing compact and efficient DNA reading methods for specialised environments, such as space missions, where traditional laboratory equipment is impractical. These technologies could eliminate the need for large centrifuges and other lab tools during space missions.
The DiDAX consortium is also advancing practical applications of DNA storage technology, including embedding DNA in products to store comprehensive information about their production, components, and usage instructions.
“Imagine a spacecraft component that holds its own maintenance logs, manufacturing information, and technical specifications, all encoded in DNA integrated into the material itself,” said Eitan Yaakobi, the coordinator of the DiDAX consortium. “This innovation allows for self-documenting products that keep their data throughout their lifecycle without relying on external databases.”
Through its role in DiDAX, Genomika seeks to transition DNA data storage technologies from laboratory concepts to real-world applications. Ultimately, this project’s collaborative framework aims to overcome technical challenges while paving the way for new possibilities in secure, high-density information storage.
