Netherlands-based life sciences firm to set up U.S. headquarters in Keene

Detact Diagnostics will be setting up lab space at Keene State College for its on-site bacterial-detection platforms.

Detact Diagnostics, a Netherlands-based life sciences company that produces bacterial- and viral-detection solutions, will be establishing its U.S. headquarters and laboratories in Keene.

The expansion is in partnership with the Hannah Grimes Center for Entrepreneurship and Keene State College, which will provide space for Detact to create a clinical laboratory improvement amendment (CLIA)-certified laboratories as well as an expansive internship and employment program.

“With its easily accessible networking opportunities compared to larger markets, plus its life-sciences ecosystem and the support from Hannah Grimes, New Hampshire is the ideal destination for our U.S. expansion,” said Joost Gazendam, Detact’s CEO. “From its proximity to the Manchester and Nashua areas, to its affordability, quality of life, and community connectivity, this rural region offers endless benefits that will allow us to continue to grow our company, educate a new generation of professionals and deploy life-changing technology.”

CLIA-certified laboratories are federally regulated sites that test human specimens to diagnose, prevent and treat disease. The lab space, to be developed at Keene State, will be used for Detact’s on-site bacterial-detection platforms, which enable healthcare providers and food-processing professionals to detect the presence of virus and bacteria and allow for fast, affordable and precise treatment.

By measuring the amount of light released by a specimen, the patented Detact platform technology, called VIPER (Visualization by Infrared Peptide Reaction), can determine the presence of bacteria or viruses.

The company said it plans to hire Keene State College students for academic internship opportunities each semester and will roll out multiple hiring incentive programs in partnership with the institution.

NH Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell said the announcement “further demonstrates the value of our ‘triangle’ strategy (employer-academic center-government) to generate high-tech investment statewide.”

According to the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, The Granite State’s life science and medical device sector, which includes over 600 companies, employs over 7,000 and contributes close to $6 billion to the state’s GDP, is one of the top three leading drivers of economic growth. Medicine manufacturing was the number one sector for job growth in 2019.