ALTER | HTV investigates the long-term durability of digital storage media
21. August 2025
Next-generation technologies for long-term data preservation
ALTER | HTV is actively involved in the Labest Digital research project initiated by the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE). The project aims to evaluate the durability and reliability of various digital storage media – including DVD, SSD, HDD, microfilm, M-Disc, and NanoFiche™ – under extreme environmental conditions.
“Our extensive experience in testing and long-term storage of electronic components makes us an ideal partner for this project,” explains Thomas Kuhn, Assistant to the Management at ALTER | HTV. “We apply specialized procedures to expose storage media to heat, humidity, radiation, and mechanical stress in order to assess their quality and longevity.”
Special attention is given to innovative technologies such as M-Disc and NanoFiche™, which could remain stable for centuries. These solutions open up new possibilities for the secure preservation of data that will be crucial for future generations.
The Labest Digital project represents an important step in research on long-term digital storage. The results are expected by mid-2026 and will be key in determining suitable storage technologies for interim and final repositories of radioactive waste.
Find out more about our commitment and project progress: more information
