German bioinformatics co. establishes US base in Ann Arbor

A German-based bioinformatics company, Genomatix, has established its United States base of operations in Ann Arbor. The division, Genomatix Software, has been operational since the end of May in the Ann Arbor SPARK incubator, although CEO Peter Grant says they will move to a permanent location in November.

The company develops software that helps scientists understand genetic information they have decoded. In Ann Arbor, Genomatix will sell the software as well as train users.

Grant says the company chose Ann Arbor for a myriad of reasons. "They were drawn in part by incentives from the state, in part by SPARK, in part because of Pfizer and the University of Michigan, and in part because I happen to live here," he says. "It came together all at the same time." He adds that Pfizer leaving does not impact their decision.

Grant can see their staff of four growing to 25 in the near future, and speculates it could grow even bigger. His goal is to serve Genomatix's existing U.S. customers while adding new ones to their numbers. "Doing business in the U.S. was hard from across the ocean," he says about opening an Ann Arbor office. "Having a presence here would not only expand our base but grow our business in a manner it should be growing."

Source: Peter Grant, Genomatix
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh