Viome Signs Agreement With Bhutan on Health Research

BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 28, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- Viome Life Sciences has signed a memorandum of understanding with Druk Holding & Investments Ltd (DHI), the investment arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan, and Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), the Special Administrative Region of Bhutan, to develop a Molecular Foundation Model for global diagnostics and drug development. The agreement, signed in New York on September 25, 2026, marks the first step toward a defined investment proposition and definitive agreements.

The memorandum of understanding sets out a joint development exercise for the AI Model and a research and development centre that would serve customers worldwide, running on Bhutan-owned compute powered by clean hydropower. The agreement follows Viome Life Sciences' announcement in a press release dated 28-Sep-2026, which stated that the memorandum of understanding would set out a joint development exercise for the AI Model and a research and development centre that would serve customers worldwide, running on Bhutan-owned compute powered by clean hydropower.

The parties involved include Viome Life Sciences, which contributes its metatranscriptomic dataset and expertise in building a Molecular Foundation Model to the effort. The memorandum records the parties' shared intent to explore the development of a Molecular Foundation Model in Bhutan. DHI, the investment arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan, supports its strategy to grow its economic contribution tenfold over the next decade, diversifying beyond hydropower into new areas of energy, technology, and global investment. DHI's strategy is known as DH1 10X.

Gelephu Mindfulness City, established with its own legal and financial system, provides the regulatory home and clinical environment for validation. Under the agreement, DHI would assist in funding, building, and powering a dedicated compute facility in Bhutan using the country's hydropower. GMC would provide the regulatory home and clinical environment for validation. Viome would use its dataset and lead the model's scientific and technical work, including training Bhutanese scientists and engineers at a planned Centre of Excellence. Any Bhutanese citizen's health data used in the work would remain in Bhutan and be subject to Bhutanese governance.

DHI's CEO, Ujjwal Deep Dahal, sees the collaboration as a way to bring Bhutan's philosophy of Gross National Happiness together with frontier science, artificial intelligence, and precision health. He believes this strategic effort will accelerate the DH1 10X initiative and foster a vibrant innovation ecosystem. The Governor of GMC, Dasho Dr. Lotay Tshering, sees the partnership as an opportunity to anchor a Molecular Foundation Model in GMC, driving global medical breakthroughs while cultivating Bhutanese scientific and engineering leaders.

The parties intend to complete a joint pre-feasibility exercise over the next six to ten weeks. It is expected to produce a preliminary investment case, a technical and compute plan, and a phased roadmap. Each party intends to name a coordinator to the joint working team within two weeks of signing. The agreement extends the work Viome has built since 2016 on metatranscriptomics, the technology behind its consumer health tests and its clinical business, Viome PRO.

Druk Holding & Investments (DHI) is the commercial arm of the Royal Government of Bhutan. Established in 2007, it holds and manages the government's investments for the long-term benefit of the people of Bhutan. As the only government-owned holding company in Bhutan, DHI holds shares in 22 domestic companies across energy, manufacturing, natural resources, finance, communications, aviation, trading, and real estate. Its wider portfolio includes global equities, fixed income, venture capital, and real estate. Its future focus spans technology, including healthtech and artificial intelligence, as well as energy and resources, mining and minerals, digital assets, and infrastructure.

Gelephu Mindfulness City is a visionary initiative creating a world-class economic hub in southern Bhutan, centered on mindfulness, sustainability, and innovation. The SAR integrates traditional Bhutanese values with globally recognized legal frameworks, cutting-edge design and technology, while harnessing the Kingdom's abundant renewable energy resources to serve as a global exemplar of holistic development.