Imagine storing all the world's digital files inside tiny biological molecules instead of giant server farms. This project uses enzymes—nature's own tools—to write data into DNA, making it much cheaper than current lab methods. It's like switching from an expensive hand-written ledger to a high-speed digital printer for biological storage.
Digital archiving is currently limited by the high cost and energy requirements of magnetic tape and disks. Synthetic DNA offers extreme density but is currently too expensive for mass adoption due to the cost of chemical synthesis.
An automated DNA synthesis and sequencing platform including enzyme kits, workstation modules, and a two-layer encoding model for different data types.
If you are a data center provider dealing with the massive energy costs of magnetic tape archives — this project developed an enzymatic DNA synthesis system that aims to reduce the cost of writing data by several orders of magnitude. This allows for denser, more permanent archival storage.
If you are a government agency dealing with the decay of digital media over decades — this project developed a molecular storage system that provides a stable, long-term medium. It uses automated sequencing and synthesis to ensure data remains retrievable.
If you are a biotech firm dealing with the high cost of $0.001 per nucleotide for synthetic DNA — this project developed enzymatic synthesis kits and automation modules. This lowers the barrier for creating large-scale synthetic DNA libraries.
Current synthetic DNA costs $0.001 per nucleotide, which is seven orders of magnitude more expensive than tape. MoSS aims to dramatically reduce this cost by using enzymatic synthesis instead of phosphonamidite chemistry.
Yes, the project focused on moving from TRL4 to TRL6, developing a scalable encoding model and automated workstation modules to handle massive amounts of content.
Based on available project data, the technology is being developed by Helixworks Technologies Limited in collaboration with academic partners, with a focus on building a commercial business case for EIC Accelerator readiness.
The system includes a sequencing preparation kit and a device for automating library preparation, supported by a read consensus solution developed by EURECOM.
The project ran from 2022-05-01 to 2024-04-30.
The consortium is a lean, 3-partner group combining industrial agility with academic depth. With a 33% industry ratio (Helixworks as the SME coordinator), the project balances commercial drive with high-level research from Imperial College London and EURECOM, ensuring the technology is both scientifically sound and market-oriented.
Contact Helixworks Technologies Limited in Ireland for commercial licensing and TRL6 prototype details.
Contact us to explore integration of enzymatic DNA storage into your archival strategy.
