TextaDNA project advances DNA based data storage using polymer fibers
The TextaDNA project, funded by the EIC Pathfinder program and coordinated by CIC nanoGUNE, is moving steadily forward in its mission to develop a new generation of DNA‑based data storage integrated into polymer fibers. In collaboration with Eurofins Genomics, a multinational specialized in DNA synthesis and sequencing located in Germany, the consortium is building a complete workflow that enables digital information to be encoded into DNA sequences, embedded into polymer‑based nanomaterials, and later retrieved and decoded with high fidelity.
Data keeps growing exponentially, driving the demand for better memory storage solutions. Synthetic DNA is a strong candidate to answer this need, given its high information density, durability, and relevance as the molecule of life. TextaDNA proposes an alternative to conventional memory storage by embedding information‑bearing oligonucleotides within flexible fibers that can be incorporated into fabrics or other material platforms. In theory, all the information contained in a room full of hard disks could be stored in a grain of rice-sized volume of DNA. Over the first two years, the project has succeeded in establishing a workflow, including the development of an encoding and decoding scheme adapted to next‑generation sequencing technologies. This includes the exploration of different algorithms and the implementation of a decoding architecture optimised for reading the data stored within the fibers.
Eurofins Genomics has advanced the synthesis of stable oligonucleotides and produced proof‑of‑concept sequence pools, while optimizing solid‑phase DNA synthesis protocols. In parallel, nanoGUNE has created a library of polymer fibers capable of protecting the DNA and enabling controlled non-destructive retrieval of information when required. This work has laid a technological foundation for further innovation in novel molecular data storage technologies and contributes to the emergence of a European innovation ecosystem in this field. In the next phase of TextaDNA, the consortium will work with potential partners and investors to develop use-cases in various applications ranging from product verification to data-archiving.
TextaDNA counts on an Advisory Board composed of six industrial representatives, covering different areas of application, to shape the roadmap for bringing DNA digital storage to the market. These include the Catalan Packaging Cluster (Spain) for information tracking in the packaging sector, the company Particular Materials (Italy) with its technology Elementag, for product verification and traceability through molecular tagging, and Manufaktur Falck (Germany), a manufacturer of limited-edition leather goods, for anti-counterfeiting technologies in luxury. In addition, the board also includes Biolan, a Spanish biotech company leader in bio sensing solutions, to explore synergies in the development of new DNA detection assays. Finally, scientific guidance on oligonucleotide modifications will be provided by Prof. Thomas Carell from the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich (Germany), while Rafail Tasakis, from Tasakis Venture Strategy (Belgium), has been included for guidance on the commercialization roadmap of the project. The first Advisory Board meeting is scheduled for early May. This session will serve as a platform to present key achievements and foster the strategic guidance necessary to drive TextaDNA go-to-market efforts.
The European Union is deploying a broad strategy to boost the DNA-based data storage ecosystem, bringing together scientists, innovators, and companies through initiatives like the DigNA portfolio and the organization of the “Storage and Computing With DNA” international conference, which took place in Rome (Italy) in late May 2026. The conference aim was to foster collaboration and innovation by bringing together top researchers and experts working in the innovative field of DNA data storage.