SafetySpect, Inc., a California-based bio-tech company, moved their headquarters to Grand Forks, N.D. officially on January 1, 2021. Last summer, the company established an office in the University of North Dakota (UND) Center for Innovation as part of the North Dakota Bioscience Association (BioND). The Grand Forks Region Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has been working with BioND and SafetySpect, Inc. on this transition.
In July of 2020, SafetySpect was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the North Dakota Department of Agriculture for developing the Contamination and Sanitation Inspection and Disinfection (CSI-D) device, which scans surfaces to find respiratory droplets and other substances not visible to the naked eye, but could endanger health. This pioneering technology allows direct, instant measurement of whether a surface is contaminated, with evidenced scientific verification. The science behind CSI-D is currently being verified by the UND’s College of Engineering and Mines and School of Medicine & Health Sciences, and is also being validated for regulatory compliance. SafetySpect is also using a manufacturing facility in North Dakota to produce the device.
“We have found great, highly-skilled people to help expand our business, in addition to a world class manufacturing facility ComDel Innovation to commercialize our CSI-D+ system. North Dakota makes for a great place to do business in the United States today,” said Kenneth Barton, CEO of SafetySpect.
“With North Dakota’s only medical school, Grand Forks is a great match for a company growing in the biotech cluster. The research and development at UND has primed our region for a company like SafetySpect,” said Brandon Baumbach, EDC director of business development. “We’re grateful for the work of Richard Glynn [executive director of BioND] for his efforts to support SafetySpect’s relocation to Grand Forks and to promote the biotech industry across the state of North Dakota.”
This proprietary technology that provides a ‘CSI-D certified clean’ was initially conceived and prototyped by scientists with the US Army and the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service to keep armed forces safe from contaminants in hostile conditions. Since 2018, SafetySpect has worked to improve upon and deepen the technology to suit commercial needs and bring a new system to detect, disinfect and document viral/bacterial infectious agents. CSI-D+ detects harmful pathogens including respiratory droplets containing viruses like COVID-19 and disinfects them in seconds using integrated UVC light.
SafetySpect’s first batch of CSI-D devices will be ready for commercialization in Q1 2021.
