SWISS VAULT SYSTEMS GMBH

Their core work

Swiss Vault Systems is a Basel-based deep-tech SME that developed BASEPORT, a proprietary compressed data storage system purpose-built for genomic and healthcare data. Their core innovation addresses one of the most acute problems in modern medicine: DNA sequencing now generates petabyte-scale datasets that are prohibitively expensive and energy-intensive to store using conventional infrastructure. The company combines data compression algorithms with modular, space-efficient storage architecture to dramatically reduce both the physical footprint and operational cost of genomic data repositories. Their technology sits at the intersection of bioinformatics, data engineering, and hardware efficiency — relevant wherever large-scale genomic or clinical data must be stored securely and sustainably.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Swiss Vault Systems entered H2020 in 2018 with a tightly scoped feasibility study focused on power-efficient DNA sequencing and storage — essentially proving the concept works and is commercially viable. The 2020–2023 Phase 2 project reveals a deliberate expansion: the same core compression technology was repositioned toward the broader healthcare data market, with security, modular deployment, and space management added to the original cost and energy efficiency pitch. The trajectory is clear — from a niche genomics tool to a general-purpose healthcare data infrastructure platform, likely in response to market feedback gathered during the Phase 1 period.

They are moving up-market from a genomics lab tool toward a full healthcare data infrastructure product, which positions them for enterprise hospital and pharma clients rather than just research institutions.

How they like to work

Swiss Vault Systems used the SME Instrument as a solo innovator — both H2020 projects were coordinated by SVS with no recorded consortium partners, which is characteristic of companies using the instrument to fund internal product development rather than collaborative research. This means they are experienced at leading EU-funded projects and navigating Commission reporting requirements, but have not yet built a broad network of research or industrial partners through Horizon funding. A future collaborator should expect a company that prefers to own the technology and lead the work, rather than share IP across a large consortium.

No consortium partners are recorded in CORDIS across either project, consistent with the solo-applicant model of the SME Instrument. Their collaborative footprint within the EU funding system is currently minimal, though their Basel location places them physically close to major pharma and biotech players (Roche, Novartis, Lonza) who are natural future partners or clients.

What sets them apart

Swiss Vault Systems occupies an unusual niche: they are a data engineering company whose primary domain expertise is life sciences data, specifically the storage bottleneck created by next-generation DNA sequencing. Most data compression and storage companies are sector-agnostic; most genomics companies focus on sequencing instruments or analysis software, not the storage layer. SVS's Basel address is a significant asset — it places them at the center of Europe's largest pharma cluster, giving them natural proximity to the exact enterprise clients who generate and must manage petabyte-scale genomic datasets. A consortium looking to address digital health infrastructure, precision medicine data pipelines, or hospital IT modernization would find SVS a credible and differentiated technical contributor.

Highlights from their portfolio

• BasePort
  The Phase 2 SME Instrument award of EUR 1.74M confirms the Commission validated both the technology and the commercial case, making this the strongest signal of product maturity and market readiness available in the public record.
• BASEPORT
  The Phase 1 feasibility study (EUR 50,000, 2018–2019) represents the starting point of a successful SME Instrument Phase 1 → Phase 2 journey — a relatively rare outcome that indicates strong commercial potential was demonstrated early.