DNA Data Storage Alliance Welcomes Fujifilm Recording Media USA

The DNA Data Storage Alliance, an organization formed in 2020 by Illumina, Inc., Microsoft Corp., Twist Bioscience Corporation and Western Digital Corporation to create and promote an interoperable storage ecosystem based on DNA as a storage medium, announced that the organization has expanded to more than 50 members with recent addition of Fujifilm Recording Media USA., Inc.

The Fujifilm Group of companies leverages its depth of knowledge and core technologies for fields including both bioscience and storage, among others. The expansion and interest from a range of organizations demonstrates the growing interest in DNA dtorage.

The Alliance includes 11 public companies, 14 private companies, 2 consultancies, 2 VC firms, 17 universities, 5 research non-profits and 1 foundation.

Since its founding, the Alliance has grown an online presence, published the whitepaper: An Introduction to DNA Data Storage, organized the first DNA Data Storage track at the SNIA Storage developer conference and participated in several industry events.

“We are thrilled to witness growing interest in the DNA Data Storage market as evidenced by the number of companies that have joined the DNA Data Storage Alliance,” said Steffen Hellmold, SVP, business development, DNA Data Storage, Twist Bioscience. “The diversity of the member companies of the Alliance representing every aspect of the DNA Data Storage ecosystem is foundational to facilitate a robust and ideal growth trajectory.“

“The rapid growth in interest around DNA data storage is incredibly exciting,” said Craig Ciesla, PhD, head of advanced platforms and devices, Illumina. “By continuing to improve the speed and performance of sequencing technology as well as drive down the cost, Illumina aims to help broaden access to DNA as a storage platform. We are pleased to be part of the ever-expanding alliance membership to help shape the future of data storage.“

“It’s incredible how much progress we’ve made in the field of DNA Data Storage,” said Karin Strauss, senior principal research manager, Microsoft. “When Microsoft began DNA Data Storage research in collaboration with the University of Washington back in 2015, we knew the technology was promising and now we’re seeing even more advances emerge into the field of molecular storage. The growth of the DNA Data Storage Alliance to 50 members is another sign of the exciting developments still to come.“

“Whether it’s safeguarding historical records or enabling tomorrow’s next big ideas, data binds us together in the digital economy, and it’s important that we continue to innovate and find new ways for people to store and protect it,” said Dan Steere, SVP, corporate business development, Western Digital. “DNA Data Storage is one of those exciting opportunities and we look forward to working with our new alliance members to develop the technology and the ecosystem.“

The DNA Data Storage Alliance mission is to create and promote an interoperable storage ecosystem based on manufactured DNA as a storage medium. Its initial aim is to educate the public and raise awareness about this emerging technology. In addition, as the methods and tools for commercially viable DNA storage become better understood and more widely available, the alliance will consider the creation of specs and standards (e.g., encoding, physical interfaces, retention, file systems) to promote the emergence of interoperable DNA storage-based solutions that complement existing storage hierarchies. It alliance neither certifies nor endorses specific products or applications.