E! 7360 Migration Free Long-Term Storage and Archival Medium

The MiLoS Project has developed a long-term storage and preservation medium that eliminates the need for costly and repetitive migration of data. It has undertaken the necessary R&D to create a new European-based solution and workflow that will be a strong and competitive alternative to US and Asian hard disk and tape technologies that currently is used for long-term archiving. The main objectives of the project has been: - Developed a new storage and preservation medium the "PiqlFilm" based on nano-sized photosensitive materials for migration-free long-term storage and future retrieval as well as required preservation processes. This new storage medium, together with other aspects of the storage solution, will have the capacity to store data safely for up to 500 years and will be based on open standards - Preserving the data with highest possible speed of data writing and reading on the new medium - Creating a cost-effective and practical packaging solution for the medium with the same longevity properties as the medium and with efficient logistics during long-term storage So the project has managed to demonstrate enhanced storage capacity, improved longevity with logistical flexibility and higher writing and reading speeds with the piqlFilm. As well as developing the medium material, the project has also had other objectives: - Established a reliable, cost-effective manufacturing methods for the medium and packaging - Developed a photochemical processing and related equipment for the new medium - Evaluated and proven the longevity and reliability of the new medium and its packaging - Established a full-scale integrated process chain or workflow with skilled and demanding users of long-term preservation solutions assessing the new medium as it develops. The objectives in the project has required collaboration by a broad range of research institutes, material technology research companies, technology developers and manufacturers. They have been supported by government and commercial institutes and organizations that are also backing this pan-European project. The results of the MiLoS project will be a part of the integrated Piql Preservation Services and is no ready to go to market.

Summary The MiLoS Project will develop and establish a Migration Free Long-Term Storage and Archival Medium and Process Chain with longevity up to 500 years. The overall innovative aspect of the MiLoS Project is to use a holistic integrated approach to lo ng-term archiving of data, a total closed loop Process Chain perspective; * Photosensitive Material development * Medium development and qualification * Manufacturing of Medium * Medium Packaging development and qualification * Manufacturing of Medium Packaging * Writing of data onto Medium * Medium photochemical processing * Longevity verification of Medium * Reading back data from Medium All at an extremely attractive cost! Critical R&D challanges Medium and Material: The development of the novel nano-sized Single Layer and Multi Layer silver halide based photosensitive Materials as such is challenging. Writing and Reading: Encode digital data in a way that the retrieval is possible with only very basic assumptions on the read-out device. Longevi ty Properties: All organic materials are subjects to chemical deterioration. Also the new MiLoS Medium and Packaging may be affected by temperature, humidity and pollutants. Longevity Qualification: The length of this project (30 months) is too short to finalize the necessary accelerated aging of storage medium for reliable prediction of lifetime up to 500 years Project Execution: In an international cooperation project it can be a challenge to get the project up to speed and to accomplish the projects o bjectives within the planned timeframe. To handle this risk, the presumably most competent resources in Europe, the participants in the MiLoS Project, are combined to solve the potential issues. Potential The market for the MiLoS Medium is in general the global market for storage of digital data, and in particular the market for long-term storage or archiving of these data. Almost every business, government, cultural org./homeusers are facing the demand for storing