3. The Research Tools sector in Minnesota is composed of 27 companies
distributed among the following fields, with the largest proportion in the
cell biology space.
+ Cell Biology (13)
+ Instrumentation (4)
+ Materials / Chemistry (3)
+ Supporting (7)
The sector is bolstered by the success of R&D Systems, a mature
Minneapolis-based research tools company that started in the 1970’s.
However there are a number of emerging, innovative companies that
started in the 2000s.The University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic,
and the technical workforce generated by the existing medical device
and engineering industries provide an excellent talent pool of potential
employees and development partners. Lastly, incubators that provide
affordable wet lab and office space, as well as tax credits for R&D and
angel investors, promote growth and investment in this burgeoning
industry.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
five companies
ten companies
fifteen companies
1971
1999
1915-2015
MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS INDUSTRY GROWTH OVER 100 YEARS
4. [1] NATIONAL CONTEXT OF AVAILABLE
RESEARCH TOOLS
1
The US is the world leader in the Research Tools sector, with revenues
from the top seven companies reaching nearly $50 billion in 2014.
US RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES 2
[2] MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES 5
Minnesota has twenty-seven Research Tools companies and has been
growing drastically since the early 2000s.
MINNESOTA INDUSTRY 6
DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES BY CATEGORY 6
SPOTLIGHT ON R&D SYSTEMS 8
SPOTLIGHT ON EMERGING RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES 9
[3] INSIDE THE MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS
SECTOR
11
The diversity of technical expertise, concentration of incubators and new
tax incentives have encouraged a robust start-up economy in Minnesota.
STATE & REGIONAL CLUSTERS OF RESEARCH TOOLS 14
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE 15
SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE 18
INCUBATORS 20
TAX INCENTIVES 21
[4] MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS DIRECTORY 23
5. LIST OF FIGURES
FIGURE 1. The Top Seven Research Tools Companies in the US 2
FIGURE 2. Map of Minnesota Research Tools by Category 7
FIGURE 3. Timeline History of R&D Systems 8
FIGURE 4. Minnesota Research Tools Company Breakdown 12
FIGURE 5. Minnesota Company Clusters 14
FIGURE 6. NIH Awards & Funding + "IBRC" Corridor 16
FIGURE 7. Minnesota's Biology to Engineering Spectrum 19
8. 2 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
Research tools companies develop products that facilitate life science
research. Examples of products include cell biology products and
instrumentation, analytical testing equipment and laboratory parts. The
US is the world leader in research tools companies, with revenues from
the top seven companies reaching nearly $50 billion in 2014. Although
none of the nation’s largest research tools companies are headquartered
in Minnesota, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Product Inspection Division
is located in Coon Rapids, MN, and Beckman Coulter's Immunoassay
Division is located in Chaska, MN.
"Map of United States of America with States - Outline by FreeVectorMaps.com" (page 2 and 16).
FIGURE 1. THE TOP SEVEN RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES IN THE US
9. 3Section 1 | National Context of Available Research Tools
THE TOP SEVEN
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS REVENUE EMPLOYEES
Thermo Fisher
Scientific 1
Waltham, MA
(MN operations)
$17 Billion
5000
(~120 in
MN)
Becton
Dickinson 2
Franklin Lakes,
NJ
$8.4 Billion 3000
Beckman Coulter
(Danaher Corp) 3
Brea, CA
(MN operations)
$6.9 Billion
24000
(~1000 in
MN)
Agilent
Technologies 4 Santa Clara, CA $7.0 Billion 21400
VWR 5
Randor, PA $4.2 Billion 8400
Sigma Aldrich
(subsidiary of
Merck) 6
St. Louis, MO $2.7 Billion 9000
BioRad 7
Hercules, CA $2.1 Billion 7750
1
SOURCE: Thermo Fisher Scientific. http://wwwthermofisher.com/en/about-us.html
2
SOURCE: Becton Dickinson. (2014). Annual Report 2014. Retrieved from http://bd.com/ar2014/
3
SOURCE: Danaher. (2013). Annual Report 2013. Retrieved from http://media.corporate-ir.net/media_
files/IROL/82/82105/Danaher_2013_Annual _Report.pdf
4
SOURCE: Agilent. (2014). Annual Report 2014. Retrieved from http://www.investor.agilent.com/
5
SOURCE: VWR. (2013). Form 10-K 2013. Retrieved from http://investor.vwr.com/secfiling
6
SOURCE: Sigma Aldrich. (2013). Annual Report 2013. Retrieved from http://files.shareholder.com/down-
loads/SIGMA
7
SOURCE: Biorad. (2013). Annual Report 2013. Retrieved from http://www.bio-rad.com/webroot/web/pdf/
corporate/literature/Bio-Rad_2013AnnualReport.pdf
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
12. 6 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
The Research Tools sector in Minnesota is small but growing, with a
total of 27 companies occupying the space. Growth of research tools com-
panies started in the 1970s and expanded in the 2000s, with cell biology
tools companies, instrumentation companies, materials and chemistry
companies and other companies that support research technology.1
R&D Systems, Biovest International and Lifecore Biomedical are
Minnesota’s only large, public research tools companies. Other public
companies that develop products that support research technology are
the Donaldson Company, ATMI / Entegris and Protolabs. The majority
of the research tools companies are emerging, private and small, with at
least ten of the companies having 100 or fewer employees, suggesting
that this is an area of growth in the life sciences.
1
See Research Tools Directory (p 21).
DEFINITIONS OF RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES BY CATEGORY
Cell Biology Tools
Companies
Stem cells, proteins, peptides,
reagents, assays and kits
Instrumentation
Companies
Fluorescence plate readers and
array tape
Materials / Chemistry
Companies
Medical device coatings and
specialty chemicals
Supporting
Companies
Filter media, bioreactors, metallic
and rubber parts, valves and tubing
13. 7Text
FIGURE 2. MAP OF MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS BY CATEGORY
INSTRUMENTATION (4 COMPANIES)
CELL BIOLOGY (13 COMPANIES)
SUPPORTING (7 COMPANIES)
MATERIALS / CHEMISTRY (3 COMPANIES)
14. 8 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
SPOTLIGHT ON R&D SYSTEMS
R&D (Research and Diagnostics) Systems was
founded in Minneapolis in 1976 and became a public
company in 1984. It is one of three major brands
of Bio-Techne, which had sales of more than $350
million in 2014. The small company that started in Minneapolis now has
branches in Germany, England and China; combined with Bio-Techne’s
other brands, they have more than 24,000 products with 95% of them
manufactured in-house.1,2
Bio-Techne’s main product lines include
immunoassays, antibodies and kits. Today, the company employs more
than 650 Minnesotans.
R&D Systems was the first cell biology company in what has been a
growing industry in Minnesota. It paved the way for companies such
as Kingfisher Biotech, Neuromics and ImmunoChemistry Technologies,
employing some of these companies’ founders. “Many companies share
the common history or link of R&D Systems, not only biotech companies,
but even medical device companies" says Joanna LaBresh, President of
Kingfisher Biotech.
1
SOURCE: Techne Corporation (2014). Form 10-K 2014. Retrieved from https://www.sec.gov/
2
SOURCE: R&D Systems. http://www.rndsystems.com/about_us.aspx
FIGURE 3. TIMELINE HISTORY OF R&D SYSTEMS
2015
2005
1995
1985
1975
Implemented new brand, Bio-Techne
Acquired six new companies
Released first research reagent, TGF-beta 1
Acquired by Techne Corporation
Released whole blood control with platelets
Sold first hematology control
Established R&D Systems Europe
Acquired Amgen and Genzyme research businesses
Formed Growth Factor Division
$50 M
$190 M
$357 M
15. 9Section 2 | Minnesota Research Tools Companies
1
SOURCE: Douglas Scientific. http://www.douglasscientific.com/
2
SOURCE: Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. http://www.fluorescenceinnovations.com/
3
SOURCE: Innovative Surface Technologies. http://www.isurtec.com/
4
SOURCE: National Institutes of Health RePorter (2014). http://report.nih.gov/award/index.cfm
SPOTLIGHT ON EMERGING RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES
Minnesota has a number of early-stage research tools companies
founded in the early 2000s. Among the most innovative are Douglas
Scientific, Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. and ISurTec.1,2,3
In 2014,
Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. received more than $180,000 from the
National Institutes of Health and from 2011 to 2013, ISurTec received
more than $2,000,000 in Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR)
grants.3,4
Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. has developed
instrumentation that utilizes their proprietary Direct
Waveform Recording Technology™ to measure
the lifetime fluorescence decay, which significantly reduces noise
and improves fluorescence measurements. It was founded in 2006 in
Bozeman, MT, and has since moved to a new location in Minneapolis,
MN.
Innovative Surface Technologies (ISurTec)
developed a temperature-responsive cell growth
surface for the gentle, non-invasive release of
cells from cultureware and microcarriers, which
eliminates the need for trypsin or other harsh reagents. ISurTec was
founded in 2004 and is located in St. Paul, MN.
ImmunoChemistry Technologies (ICT) provides
high quality research reagents and laboratory
services. ICT supplies in vitro apoptosis assays,
caspase kits, fluorescent reagents for intracellular analysis and other
critical detection tools to help biomedical researchers understand
metabolic pathways and cure disease. ICT also offers a line of ELISA
development solutions including coat buffers, conjugate stabilizers and
sample diluents. As a CRO, ICT specializes in custom immunoassay
development, conjugation, lyophilization and consulting services.
16. With operations in 17 countries worldwide, Douglas Scientific is a fast-
growing laboratory automation company based in Alexandria, Minnesota
(two hours northwest of the Twin Cities). Their novelArray Tape®
technology
has radically increased throughput of PCR reactions while simultaneously
decreasing reaction volume and overall experiment cost. Their ultra-high
throughput solution, Nexar®
, was first utilized by agriculture companies
to perform SNP genotyping on plant samples. They reinvested profits in
research and development, and have adapted their technology into two
smaller-scale instruments.The IntelliQube®
is the first fully automated
system that integrates liquid handling, thermal cycling, detection and
analysis into one instrument. It too is optimized for Array Tape and is used
for both end-point and quantitative PCR applications. The other is the
AmpliFire®
, a point-of-use, hand held instrument that leverages isothermal
chemistry to facilitate sample to answer responses in minutes. It is easily
employed out in the field to test plant, animal, food and for research use
in diagnostics of human samples for diseases. Most notably, the AmpliFire
contributed to the global effort to address the ebola virus.
Douglas Scientific currently has 115 employees mostly based in Alexandria
and a satellite office in Hopkins, MN. As demand for the Array Tape Platform
continues to grow and revolutionize labs, Douglas Scientific is expanding
operations in the US and international markets specially focusing on India,
China and Brazil.
18. 12 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
CELL BIOLOGY
Ancell [1]
BRTI Life Sciences [2]
Imanis Life Sciences [3]
Immuno Biologic Lab. [4]
ImmunoChemistry Tech. [5]
Kingfisher Biotech [6]
Lifecore Medical [7]
Microbiologics [8]
Mill Creek Life Sciences [9]
Neuromics [10]
R&D Systems [11]
Surrogen [12]
Verge Bio [13]
SUPPORTING
Dagan Corporation [1]
Donaldson Company [2]
ATMI / Entegris [3]
Gamma Vacuum [4]
Inclined Biomedical Tech. LLC [5]
Protolabs [6]
Test Resources [7]
19. 13Section 3 | Inside the Minnesota Research Tools Sector
INSTRUMENTATION
[1] Biovest
[2] Fluorescence Innovations, Inc.
[3] Douglas Scientific
[4] iLAB LLC
MATERIALS / CHEMISTRY
[1] Harland Medical
[2] ISurTec
[3] LKT Labs
FIGURE 4. MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANY BREAKDOWN
20. 14 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
The majority of Minnesota research tools companies reside in the Twin
Cities Metro. However, there are a handful of companies in other regions
in the state, including southwest of the Twin Cities (Gibbon, Shakopee
and Waconia), Rochester, Bayport, Alexandria and St. Cloud (Figure 5).
Minnesota is also part of what Greg Gillispie, President of Fluorescence
Innovations, Inc. calls the Inland Biomedical Research Corridor (IBRC)
that runs from the Twin Cities to Pittsburgh. Using the NIH RePORTER
Tool, he compared different geographical regions in 2011 and 2012 and
discovered that the top institutions in the IBRC have more funding than
those in California.
Gillispie moved his company from Bozeman, Montana to Minneapolis in
2012 to capitalize on the opportunities in the region.
"The top 12 [institutions in the IBRC] have greater National
Institutes of Health funding cumulatively than the top 12
institutions in California!"
Gregory Gillispie, President of Fluorescence Innovations, Inc.
STATE AND REGIONAL CLUSTERS OF RESEARCH TOOLS
FIGURE 5. MINNESOTA COMPANY CLUSTERS
1 COMPANY
2 COMPANIES
3 COMPANIES
17 COMPANIES
21. 15Section 3 | Inside the Minnesota Research Tools Sector
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
Minnesota is home to one of the largest medical device clusters in the
world, with companies such as Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, Boston
Scientific and 3M either headquartered in Minnesota or with significant
operations in the state.
The University of Minnesota (UMN) is a major
research institution with campuses in the Twin
Cities, Crookston, Duluth, Morris and Rochester.
Together, UMN-Twin Cities and UMN-Duluth
received more than $300 million in federal funding from the National
Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation in 2014. The
College of Biological Sciences (CBS) and the College of Science and
Engineering (CSE), both on the Twin Cities campus, have 129 CBS and
430 CSE tenure and tenure-track faculty, and 2693 CSE and 313 CBS
graduate students.1,2
These colleges contributed to the accolades the
University recently received when it was named the 29th “Best Global
University” by US News and World Report in 2014.3
Besides providing
a technical workforce, the University also houses many facilities that
provide access to equipment useful to research tools companies.4
“The advantage here is the concentration of medical device
companies. There really isn’t a better place to be from that
perspective.”
Eric Guire, Senior Scientist at Innovative Surface Technologies
1
SOURCE: The University of Minnesota College of Biological Sciences. http://www.cbs.umn.
edu/explore/about/cbs-glance
2
SOURCE: The University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering. http://cse.umn.
edu/aboutcse/CSE_CONTENT_192612.php
3
SOURCE: US News and World Report. http://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-univer
sities/rankings?page=3
4
See Research Tools Directory (p 21).
22. 16 Sector Landscapes: Tissue & Biologics | LifeScience Alley
AWDS FUNDING
AL 593 $273,600,407
AK 17 $10,793,647
AZ 404 $158,598,561
AR 104 $46,767,479
CA 7731 $3,499,391,307
CO 922 $313,993,551
CT 1122 $467,188,982
DE 67 $38,759,337
D.C. 380 $194,613,257
FL 1104 $476,217,118
GA 1161 $482,742,805
HI 86 $47,415,169
ID 17 $10,687,130
IL 1885 $733,227,259
IN 589 $210,731,457
IA 411 $169,772,206
KS 238 $109,462,489
KY 386 $153,050,665
LA 278 $140,203,878
ME 113 $72,949,821
MD 2296 $1,333,845,959
MA 4924 $2,404,091,828
MI 1423 $577,502,620
MN 1050 $504,952,618
MS 79 $43,166,617
MO 1073 $490,212,280
MT 67 $36,014,739
NE 218 $88,610,327
NV 45 $25,543,601
NH 203 $96,944,063
NJ 547 $246,964,069
NM 217 $96,781,115
NY 4808 $2,125,150,125
NC 2192 $1,067,282,781
ND 29 $15,893,123
OH 1564 $670,092,509
OK 174 $88,105,625
OR 673 $303,963,471
PA 3377 $1,516,874,603
P.R. 84 $42,352,575
RI 439 $132,043,025
SC 422 $147,391,886
SD 36 $21,577,280
TN 1076 $466,225,823
TX 2527 $981,024,135
UT 459 $175,427,096
VT 108 $58,132,718
V.I. 3 $1,760,298
VA 770 $327,737,296
WA 1585 $906,173,368
WV 42 $18,958,353
WI 883 $386,436,340
WY 18 $7,485,353
24. 18 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
“The media still does not accept Minnesota as a place for
cell culture companies. We are constantly asked why we are
here. When we tell them we are in Rochester, then it makes
sense.”
Judy Lundy, President and COO, Mill Creek Life Sciences
The Mayo Clinic, with locations in Rochester, MN,
Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ, and Jacksonville, FL,
received the highest honor by US News and World
Report when it was named “Best Hospital in 2014/2015.”
The Mayo Clinic, Rochester received more than $203
million in funding from the National Institutes of Health
in 2014 and the entire clinic has an annual research budget of more than
$625 million.1,2
The Mayo Clinic has more than 200 investigators in seven
academic research areas. Imanis Life Sciences, located in Rochester,
MN, was founded and is currently run by Mayo Clinic professors.
When asked about the workforce in Minnesota, every company president
and CEO interviewed emphatically stated that it is a strength of the region.
Therefore, it is not surprising that companies (both big and small) in
Minnesota span the range from cell and molecular biology to mechanical
engineering, making it an ideal location for research tools companies
seeking a highly-skilled technical workforce.
1
SOURCE: The National Institutes of Health RePorter (2014).
2
SOURCE: The Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayo.edu/mgs/programs/faculty
SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE
25. 19Section 3 | Inside the Minnesota Research Tools Sector
Neuromics
R&D Systems
Immunochemistry
Technologies
Biovest
Surrogen
Beckman Coulter
Harland Medical
Douglas Scientific
Medtronic
St. Jude Medical
Boston Scientific
Sciencix
Kingfisher Biotech
Apogen Biotechnologies
Immunobiologic
Laboratories
3M
ISurTec
North Central Instruments
Fluorescence Innovations, Inc.
Protolabs
Test Resources
Applied Vacuum Technology
CELL&
MOLECULAR
BIOLOGY
PROTEOMICS
&
GENOMICS
MATERIALS
SCIENCE
MECHANICAL
ENGINEERING
BIOMEDICAL
ENGINEERING
FIGURE 7. MINNESOTA'S BIOLOGY TO ENGINEERING SPECTRUM
26. 20 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
INCUBATORS
Incubators encourage early-stage companies by providing wet-labs
and office space at affordable prices, and by hosting events to bring
together the life science community. The two most prominent are
University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) and the Mayo Clinic Business
Accelerator, which house multiple life science companies. Both ISurTec
and Kingfisher Biotech are located in UEL, where tenants individually
applied for and received more than $45 million in new investments and
research grants in 2013.1
1
See Research Tools Directory (p 21).
2
SOURCE: Leightner, Amanda. June 2015. "MN Business Incubators and Accelerators." Life
Science Nexus. Retrieved August 2015.
3
SOURCE: www.mcbusaccel.com. Retrieved August 2015.
4
SOURCE: www.mnwesttechnology.com. Retrieved August 2015.
5
SOURCE: www.theseedpartners.com. Retrieved August 2015.
6
SOURCE: www.uelmn.org. Retrieved August 2015.
University Enterprise Laboratories
University Enterprise Laboratories (UEL) is a life science incubator in St. Paul,
MN, with a focus on biotech, medtech and special university departments. More
than 30 companies have been tenants since its opening in 2005.2,6
Worthington Biotechnology Advancement Center
The Worthington Biotechnology Advancement Center is an incubator located in
Worthington, MN, with a focus on agribusiness and animal health companies.2
The SEED Partners
The SEED Partners is a newly opened biosciences incubator, accelerator and
investor in the North Loop. Their 27,000 square foot space includes a 5,000
square foot wet lab facility, including fume hoods, cell culture space, and other
basic & specialized life science equipment. In addition to providing shared lab and
collaborative work spaces, SEED can assist clients from the early stages of an
idea to product concept, as well as provide business support, office support and
laboratory support services.5
Mayo Clinic Business Accelerator
Based in Rochester, MN, the Mayo Clinic Business Accelerator opened in 2013
with a focus on medtech and healthtech. As of August 2015, there have been a
total of 20 company tenants.3
MinnWest Technology Campus
2006 marked the founding of the MinnWest Technology Campus in Willmar, MN,
a biobusiness incubator focusing on agribusiness and biotechnology. More than
30 companies currently reside as tenants (2015).2,4
Business Enterprise Center
The Business Enterprise Center (BEC) is an accelerator located in Cottage Grove,
MN. It offers affordable work space and support services to startups.2
27. 21Section 3 | Inside the Minnesota Research Tools Sector
TAX INCENTIVES
To encourage innovation in the state and investment in startup companies,
the State of Minnesota has implemented the R&D Tax Credit and the
Angel Tax Credit.
R&D Tax Credit
Eligible recipients receive a 10% credit on qualifying expenses up to $2
million, and 2.5% for expenses surpassing that amount.1
Angel Tax Credit
Rewards investors 25% for investing in startups focusing on new and
innovative technology.2
"The biggest advantage (of conducting my business) in
Minnesota is the Angel Tax Credit. For small start-ups, this
is HUGE!"
Judy Lundy, President and COO, Mill Creek Life Sciences
1
SOURCE: Minnesota Revenue. http://www.revenue.state.mn.us/
2
SOURCE: Minnesota DEED. http://mn.gov/deed/
28. IN CONCLUSION,
The Research Tools sector in Minnesota is small but growing. R&D
Systems, the oldest, largest and most established tools company,
has paved the way for cell biology companies. Additionally, a number
of companies exist that support research tools companies, such as
engineering companies that develop manufactured parts.Today, there are
a number of innovative companies developing tools and instrumentation
to facilitate research.
Minnesota’s strong biomedical industry, academic institutions and a
world-class clinic have provided training for generations of scientists
and engineers that make up Minnesota’s technical workforce. Minnesota
is committed to building and keeping innovative companies in-state,
demonstrating its commitment by implementing programs to support
research and development and early-stage venture.
With its solid infrastructure in the biosciences and engineering,
programming to encourage investment in early-stage companies and
recent emergence of small, private tools companies, the Research Tools
sector in Minnesota is poised for growth in the upcoming decades.
CONTRIBUTORS
Thank you to the company presidents, CEOs, and others who generously
contributed their time and shared their perspectives on the industry: Chris
Echeverri, Greg Gillispie, Eric Guire, Patrick Guire, Joanna LaBresh,
Judy Lundy and Donna Pinotti.
30. 24 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES
Company City, State Founded Summary
Ancell Bayport, MN 1992 Produce immunology research tools.
ATMI / Entegris Bloomington, MN 1966
Provides products and materials used in
high-technology manufacturing.
Biovest International, Inc. Minneapolis, MN 1983
Protein manufacturing instruments utilizing
proprietary hollow fiber technology.
BRTI Life Sciences Two Harbors, MN 2003
3D- cell culture tool & matrix that creates a
microenvironment for multiple applications.
Douglas Scientific Alexandria, MN 2009
Designs and manufactures laboratory
instrumentation.
Dagan Corporation Minneapolis, MN 1974
Produces scientific instruments including
voltage and cell patch clamps.
Donaldson Company Bloomington, MN 1915 Filtration manufacturer.
Fluorescence Innovations,
Inc.
Minneapolis, MN 2006
Instrumentation that measures fluorescence
lifetime properties of biological systems.
Gamma Vacuum LLC Shakopee, MN 2003
Ion pumps, titanium sublimation pumps,
non-evaporable getters and their controls.
Harland Medical Eden Prairie, MN 2003
Product solutions for healthcare surface
enhancement market.
iLAB LLC Maple Grove, MN -
Design and development of biomedical
instrumentation.
Imanis Life Sciences Rochester, MN 2012
Non-invasive reporter systems - cell lines,
lentivirus and contract imaging solutions.
Immuno Biological
Laboratories
Minneapolis, MN 1997
Clinical laboratory reagent assays for
research and clinical testing.
ImmunoChemistry
Technologies
Bloomington, MN 1994
Protein chemistry lab. Apoptosis assays and
ELISA detection reagents.
31. 25Section 4 | Minnesota Research Tools Directory
MINNESOTA RESEARCH TOOLS COMPANIES
Company City, State Founded Summary
Inclined Biomedical
Technologies LLC
Minneapolis, MN -
Develops lab tools for academia, med /
pharma, hospitals and government facilities.
Innovative Surface
Technologies (ISurTec)
St. Paul, MN 2004
CRO; develops scaffolds and matrices, drug
delivery and surface coatings.
Kingfisher Biotech St. Paul, MN 2008 Research reagents for variety of species.
Lifecore Biomedical LLC Chaska, MN 1986
Manufactures Hyaluronan and other
biomaterials for various medical
applications.
LKT Labs St. Paul, MN 1988
Specialty chemicals for cancer
chemoprevention.
Microbiologics St. Cloud, MN 1971
Ready-to-use high quality lyophilized micro-
organisms.
Mill Creek Life Sciences Rochester, MN 2010
Products to supplement cell culture used in
stem / primary cells.
Neuromics Edina, MN 2003
Reagents and methods for Neuroscience
Research Community.
Protolabs Maple Plain, MN 1999 Plastic injection molding parts.
R&D Systems Minneapolis, MN 1985
Produces human cytokines for genetic
engineering.
Surrogen, Inc. St. Paul, MN 2013
Genetically-tailored large animal models of
disease.
Test Resources Shakopee, MN 1998 Materials testing equipment.
Verge Bio Minneapolis, MN 2014
Designs and engineers diagnostic cell-
permeant tracers and dyes.
32. 26 Sector Landscapes: Research Tools | LifeScience Alley
UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA FACILITIES
UMN Facility Director Summary
Characterization Facility
Greg Haugstad
haugs001@umn.edu
Materials research spanning from
nanotechnology to biology and medicine.
Magnetic Transport
Laboratory
Dan Dahlberg
dand@physics.umn.edu
Applications and advancement of Magnetic
Force Microscopy (MFM).
Tissue Mechanics
Laboratory
Robert Tranquillo
tranquillo@umn.edu
Specialized instruments for soft biological
materials.
Supercomputing Institute
Jorge Viñals
vinals@msi.umn.edu
Provides access to high-performance
computing resources.
Nano Center
Steve Campbell
campb001@umn.edu
Small-scale devices, nano materials and bio-
medical applications of nanotech.
NMR Center
Gianluigi Veglia
vegli001@umn.edu
Research and education in implementation of
NMR techniques to biomedical research.
Imaging Center
Mark Sanders
msanders@umn.edu
Advanced optical imaging and basic electron
microscopy.
MINNESOTA INCUBATORS
Company City, State Founded Summary
Business Enterprise Center Cottage Grove, MN - Work space and supportive services.
MinnWest Technology
Campus LLC
Willmar, MN 2006
Biobusiness incubator focusing on
agribusiness and biotechnology.
Mayo Clinic Business
Accelerator
Rochester, MN 2013
Collaborative space for new companies,
venture capital firms and entrepreneurs.
The SEED Partners Minneapolis, MN -
Collaboration between business professionals
& entrepreneurs in life science tech & medtech.
University Enterprise
Laboratories
St. Paul, MN 2001
Collaborative research center, advancing
biology and biotechnology.
Worthington Biotechnology
Advancement Center
Worthington, MN -
Focus on agribusiness & animal health
companies.
