Genomika, a Lithuanian deep-tech biotechnology company based in Tech-Park Kaunas, has received an investment of more than €5 million from the EU, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (UK) to revolutionize genetics. This funding is a major milestone not only for the Lithuanian startup, but also for the European Innovation Council, as it will develop a priority research area - data storage in DNA molecules.
Recognizing the potential of Genomika's pioneering research and its potential impact on a wide range of industries, the EU has launched Pathfinder, a targeted investment initiative aimed at developing innovative, high-breakthrough strategic technologies. Already, the Lithuanian company's impressive track record, scientific excellence and ambitious vision have made it an ideal candidate to receive funding and become a coordinator of the international consortium.
The funding resources will be used to expand the laboratory's facilities, acquire cutting-edge equipment, attract top talent and open up scientific discovery. The project will aim to develop a hard drive based on the storage of information in DNA molecules within 3 years, bringing the technology closer to practical application. IT engineers, data and IoT scientists, bioinformatics, robotics, DNA nanotechnology, sequencing and gene synthesis specialists will be involved in the development of this technology.
"Technologies that used to store information change every decade or so, as exemplified by storage technologies that need constant updating: cartridges have been replaced by disks, disks by USB sticks, and external hard drives and so on. These inventions become obsolete and need to be updated in order to preserve and be able to read information. DNA is therefore the repository of the future. This method can store large amounts of data in a compact container", says Lukas Žemaitis, co-founder of Genomika.