Atlas Data Storage and imec Partner on DNA-Based Data Storage

Mar 11, 2026
Atlas Data Storage and imec have formed a strategic partnership to advance synthetic DNA data storage, combining Atlas's ASIC design and DNA synthesis technology with imec's semiconductor expertise and fabrication capabilities.

LEUVEN, Belgium and SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — announced in a press release, Atlas Data Storage and imec have entered a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of digital data storage using synthetic DNA.

The collaboration combines Atlas’s custom ASIC design and scalable DNA synthesis platform with imec’s advanced chip development, fabrication, and integration capabilities. Imec co-developed and produced a nano-scale array of electrochemical cells on top of Atlas’s CMOS ASIC, enabling millions of synthesis sites to operate in parallel. This integration aims to increase DNA synthesis throughput by several orders of magnitude.

Imec’s R&D team developed specialized processes to ensure electrical isolation and stability across the dense electrode array, addressing challenges such as leakage currents in small-scale platinum devices. Through its IC-Link division, imec also manages the supply chain for Atlas’s custom wafers.

Beyond technical cooperation, imec is becoming a shareholder in Atlas Data Storage as part of its venturing strategy, providing Atlas with access to imec’s fabrication infrastructure, R&D resources, and partner ecosystem.

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