diff --git a/deepmd_utils/model_format.py b/deepmd_utils/model_format.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..68a6d4045b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deepmd_utils/model_format.py
@@ -0,0 +1,240 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
+"""Native DP model format for multiple backends.
+
+See issue #2982 for more information.
+"""
+import json
+from typing import (
+    List,
+    Optional,
+)
+
+import h5py
+import numpy as np
+
+try:
+    from deepmd_utils._version import version as __version__
+except ImportError:
+    __version__ = "unknown"
+
+
+def traverse_model_dict(model_obj, callback: callable, is_variable: bool = False):
+    """Traverse a model dict and call callback on each variable.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    model_obj : object
+        The model object to traverse.
+    callback : callable
+        The callback function to call on each variable.
+    is_variable : bool, optional
+        Whether the current node is a variable.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    object
+        The model object after traversing.
+    """
+    if isinstance(model_obj, dict):
+        for kk, vv in model_obj.items():
+            model_obj[kk] = traverse_model_dict(
+                vv, callback, is_variable=is_variable or kk == "@variables"
+            )
+    elif isinstance(model_obj, list):
+        for ii, vv in enumerate(model_obj):
+            model_obj[ii] = traverse_model_dict(vv, callback, is_variable=is_variable)
+    elif is_variable:
+        model_obj = callback(model_obj)
+    return model_obj
+
+
+class Counter:
+    """A callable counter.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> counter = Counter()
+    >>> counter()
+    0
+    >>> counter()
+    1
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.count = -1
+
+    def __call__(self):
+        self.count += 1
+        return self.count
+
+
+def save_dp_model(filename: str, model_dict: dict, extra_info: Optional[dict] = None):
+    """Save a DP model to a file in the native format.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    filename : str
+        The filename to save to.
+    model_dict : dict
+        The model dict to save.
+    extra_info : dict, optional
+        Extra meta information to save.
+    """
+    model_dict = model_dict.copy()
+    variable_counter = Counter()
+    if extra_info is not None:
+        extra_info = extra_info.copy()
+    else:
+        extra_info = {}
+    with h5py.File(filename, "w") as f:
+        model_dict = traverse_model_dict(
+            model_dict,
+            lambda x: f.create_dataset(
+                f"variable_{variable_counter():04d}", data=x
+            ).name,
+        )
+        save_dict = {
+            "model": model_dict,
+            "software": "deepmd-kit",
+            "version": __version__,
+            **extra_info,
+        }
+        f.attrs["json"] = json.dumps(save_dict, separators=(",", ":"))
+
+
+def load_dp_model(filename: str) -> dict:
+    """Load a DP model from a file in the native format.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    filename : str
+        The filename to load from.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    dict
+        The loaded model dict, including meta information.
+    """
+    with h5py.File(filename, "r") as f:
+        model_dict = json.loads(f.attrs["json"])
+        model_dict = traverse_model_dict(model_dict, lambda x: f[x][()].copy())
+    return model_dict
+
+
+class NativeLayer:
+    """Native representation of a layer.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    w : np.ndarray, optional
+        The weights of the layer.
+    b : np.ndarray, optional
+        The biases of the layer.
+    idt : np.ndarray, optional
+        The identity matrix of the layer.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        w: Optional[np.ndarray] = None,
+        b: Optional[np.ndarray] = None,
+        idt: Optional[np.ndarray] = None,
+    ) -> None:
+        self.w = w
+        self.b = b
+        self.idt = idt
+
+    def serialize(self) -> dict:
+        """Serialize the layer to a dict.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        dict
+            The serialized layer.
+        """
+        data = {
+            "w": self.w,
+            "b": self.b,
+        }
+        if self.idt is not None:
+            data["idt"] = self.idt
+        return data
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize(cls, data: dict) -> "NativeLayer":
+        """Deserialize the layer from a dict.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        data : dict
+            The dict to deserialize from.
+        """
+        return cls(data["w"], data["b"], data.get("idt", None))
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        if key in ("w", "matrix"):
+            self.w = value
+        elif key in ("b", "bias"):
+            self.b = value
+        elif key == "idt":
+            self.idt = value
+        else:
+            raise KeyError(key)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        if key in ("w", "matrix"):
+            return self.w
+        elif key in ("b", "bias"):
+            return self.b
+        elif key == "idt":
+            return self.idt
+        else:
+            raise KeyError(key)
+
+
+class NativeNet:
+    """Native representation of a neural network.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    layers : list[NativeLayer], optional
+        The layers of the network.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, layers: Optional[List[NativeLayer]] = None) -> None:
+        if layers is None:
+            layers = []
+        self.layers = layers
+
+    def serialize(self) -> dict:
+        """Serialize the network to a dict.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        dict
+            The serialized network.
+        """
+        return {"layers": [layer.serialize() for layer in self.layers]}
+
+    @classmethod
+    def deserialize(cls, data: dict) -> "NativeNet":
+        """Deserialize the network from a dict.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        data : dict
+            The dict to deserialize from.
+        """
+        return cls([NativeLayer.deserialize(layer) for layer in data["layers"]])
+
+    def __getitem__(self, key):
+        assert isinstance(key, int)
+        if len(self.layers) <= key:
+            self.layers.extend([NativeLayer()] * (key - len(self.layers) + 1))
+        return self.layers[key]
+
+    def __setitem__(self, key, value):
+        assert isinstance(key, int)
+        if len(self.layers) <= key:
+            self.layers.extend([NativeLayer()] * (key - len(self.layers) + 1))
+        self.layers[key] = value
diff --git a/source/tests/test_model_format_utils.py b/source/tests/test_model_format_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b959ace3f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/source/tests/test_model_format_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-3.0-or-later
+import os
+import unittest
+from copy import (
+    deepcopy,
+)
+
+import numpy as np
+
+from deepmd_utils.model_format import (
+    NativeNet,
+    load_dp_model,
+    save_dp_model,
+)
+
+
+class TestNativeNet(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        self.w = np.full((3, 2), 3.0)
+        self.b = np.full((3,), 4.0)
+
+    def test_serialize(self):
+        network = NativeNet()
+        network[1]["w"] = self.w
+        network[1]["b"] = self.b
+        network[0]["w"] = self.w
+        network[0]["b"] = self.b
+        jdata = network.serialize()
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(jdata["layers"][0]["w"], self.w)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(jdata["layers"][0]["b"], self.b)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(jdata["layers"][1]["w"], self.w)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(jdata["layers"][1]["b"], self.b)
+
+    def test_deserialize(self):
+        network = NativeNet.deserialize(
+            {
+                "layers": [
+                    {"w": self.w, "b": self.b},
+                    {"w": self.w, "b": self.b},
+                ]
+            }
+        )
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(network[0]["w"], self.w)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(network[0]["b"], self.b)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(network[1]["w"], self.w)
+        np.testing.assert_array_equal(network[1]["b"], self.b)
+
+
+class TestDPModel(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self) -> None:
+        self.w = np.full((3, 2), 3.0)
+        self.b = np.full((3,), 4.0)
+        self.model_dict = {
+            "type": "some_type",
+            "@variables": {
+                "layers": [
+                    {"w": self.w, "b": self.b},
+                    {"w": self.w, "b": self.b},
+                ]
+            },
+        }
+        self.filename = "test_dp_model_format.dp"
+
+    def test_save_load_model(self):
+        save_dp_model(self.filename, deepcopy(self.model_dict))
+        model = load_dp_model(self.filename)
+        np.testing.assert_equal(model["model"], self.model_dict)
+        assert "software" in model
+        assert "version" in model
+
+    def tearDown(self) -> None:
+        if os.path.exists(self.filename):
+            os.remove(self.filename)