Wageningen-Based Scope Biosciences Secures Funding For Its CRISPR-Based Molecular Diagnostics Platform

Founded by CEO Niek Savelkoul and based in Wageningen, the Netherlands, the company has now secured €6 million in seed funding. This includes a mix of venture capital, strategic investment, and non-dilutive support from top European and Dutch innovation programmes.

The funding comes after strong progress and early commercial traction. With the addition of a €2.5 million EIC Transition Grant and earlier rounds, Scope Biosciences is well-funded to scale its platform for real-world diagnostic use.

Its scopeDx technology is designed to bring accurate diagnostics closer to the source, especially in agriculture and healthcare settings where lab access is limited.

Read Also - Sequoia, Greylock And Nik Storonsky’s QuantumLight Invest $90m Into Aspora

Scope Biosciences is focused on developing its next-generation CRISPR-based diagnostics platform, scopeDx, which offers highly precise, single-nucleotide detection in a portable format—without needing special hardware or central labs.

In agriculture, the technology helps detect crop diseases earlier, reducing losses and improving yields. In healthcare, it makes reliable testing more accessible, especially in remote or underserved areas.

With rising demand for point-of-care testing that works beyond traditional labs, the molecular diagnostics market is growing rapidly—and Scope Biosciences is well-positioned to meet that need.

CEO and founder Niek Savelkoul started Scope Biosciences as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, using strong technical know-how in molecular diagnostics.

SHIFT Invest contributes its expertise in agri-tech investments, while Oost NL supports regional innovation with global impact, particularly within the East Netherlands ecosystem.

“We’re grateful for the continued backing of SHIFT and Oost NL, and proud to have secured significant public and private support as we bring our technology closer to market,” says Niek Savelkoul, CEO and founder of ScopeBio. “We’re scaling up, building out our platform, and getting ready to meet real-world diagnostic challenges head-on.”

“We are proud to provide our continued support to ScopeBio. Over the past couple of years, we have closely followed ScopeBio’s progress in commercialising their highly accurate, on-site diagnostic platform in agriculture. We are excited to see the team tackling the healthcare market with the same level of determination,” says Sophie van Weede, Associate at SHIFT Invest.

ScopeBio is part of the dynamic innovation ecosystem in East Netherlands, based at the Wageningen Campus. The company has gained commercial traction in agricultural diagnostics and is now expanding into healthcare applications.

“ScopeBio’s technology aligns perfectly with our ambition to foster regional innovation with global relevance. We are proud to support this pioneering company as it enters its next growth phase,” says Maureen Haverkamp, Investment Manager at Oost NL.

About Scope Biosciences

Scope Biosciences, a spin-off from Wageningen, is at the forefront of CRISPR-Cas diagnostics. This Nobel Prize-winning technology, recognised in 2020, has transformed molecular biology by enabling precise genetic code detection and editing. Its use goes far beyond genetic engineering, opening new possibilities in diagnostics and beyond.