Page 69 - Innovation Delaware 2021

Science & Technology
pages 68–76
Delaware’s bioscience sector is particularly diverse, including instrument manufacturers like Agilent, consumables manufacturers like ACROBiosystems, contract research organizations like QPS, and biomedical researchers like Incyte. During the pandemic, Agilent has been helping its customers accelerate vaccine development. The National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL) has made some major contributions in the fight against COVID as well. Meanwhile, Wilmington-based DeNovix has found a way to help researchers analyze samples without creating a huge waste stream of disposable plastic slides. And Incyte is researching dermatological applications for its existing cancer treatments.
In the field of chemistry, Delaware is so much more than just the erstwhile giants like DuPont and Hercules. However, their legacy has left its impact on the state’s professional makeup: Delaware boasts the highest concentration of chemical engineers and chemists in the United States — more than three times the national average. As a result, examples of innovation in chemistry are thick on the ground. For example, W.L. Gore & Associates launched a new business line during the pandemic: using one of its signature polymers to create
a safe, breathable face mask. DuPont spinoff Chemours is working to accelerate the adoption of hydrogen as a power source, and Delaware Innovation Space tenant Lignolix shows how a common industrial waste product can be converted
for reuse.
Business & Financial Services pages 77–82
Delaware’s long-established status as a hub of financial services is about to get another boost with the completion of a fintech building on the University of Delaware’s STAR Campus.
The traditional landscape of major financial institutions in Wilmington is also being enriched by fast-growing technology startups like Marlette Funding, which is working to help consumers bounce back from the impact of the pandemic. And young Delaware entrepreneur Kasai Guthrie has developed an app that can improve financial literacy.
Delaware is well known as the nation’s location of choice when it comes to incorporation. Wilmington-based firms such as CSC and IncNow help entrepreneurs navigate the issues involved. In addition, Delaware has an unrivaled lineup of law firms that specialize in incorporation and intellectual property issues, making the First State the ideal home for companies getting their start or growing with the help of new, innovative ideas.
Food & Agriculture pages 84–88
In the agribusiness sector, Delaware has long been home to large poultry operations, but the industry has become
significantly more diverse with the addition of both large global players and innovative startups. One of the bigger newcomers is Belchim Crop Protection, which is launching
a new product that could protect Delaware crops from herbicide-resistant weeds. For those who want to make do without herbicides, TRIC Robotics is building a robot that kills pests and weeds with UVC rays. An entirely new facet of Delaware’s agriculture industry is hemp processing, which is being pioneered by EDGE Grant winner Ezy Venture.
Manufacturing & Logistics pages 92–94
Manufacturing has always been a major staple of Delaware’s economy, and large companies continue to innovate. During the pandemic, Frederica-based ILC Dover designed and manufactured a protective hood for health care workers within months. A smaller company, ThruPore Technologies, pivoted from its previous focus to produce an air filter that can kill
the COVID-19 virus and is set to be rolled out in Delaware office buildings first. Meanwhile, startup Versogen is working on a new product that will significantly reduce the cost of producing green hydrogen.
Delaware’s central East Coast location also makes it a major logistics hub, with easy road, rail and air connections to key population clusters. The state’s shipping center is
the Port of Wilmington, which has been undergoing major infrastructure upgrades funded by operator Gulftainer. The First State’s logistics assets have attracted attention from major national and international companies, such as Amazon, which is set to open a massive new distribution center in the First State this summer.
Education&HealthCare pages95–98
In the health care space, Delaware is home to some world- class health systems such as ChristianaCare and Bayhealth (about which more on page 54), but also to an ever-growing landscape of companies that offer solutions for improved care. Siemens Healthineers, for example, worked to create a test
for COVID-19 at record speed. MCET Technologies helps providers keep track of surgery patients’ recovery, and Patient Sortal aims to improve continuity of care for inmates re- entering society.
The First State’s major research centers are the University of Delaware (UD) and Delaware State University (DSU). UD’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus in particular has become a renowned home of research collaborations in fields as diverse as health sciences, biopharmaceutical research and financial technology. Meanwhile, DSU is making its mark with a new genomics testing lab and a Department of Defense-funded Center of Excellence in Advanced Quantum Sensing.
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