Wageningen-based Scope Biosciences lands fresh capital to advance CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics platform

Scope Biosciences, a deep tech spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, has secured a follow-on investment from SHIFT Invest and Oost NL to advance its CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics platform.

Founded by CEO Niek Savelkoul and headquartered in Wageningen, the Netherlands, Scope Biosciences has now raised a total of €6M in seed-stage funding, combining strategic and venture capital investments with non-dilutive support from leading European and Dutch innovation programmes.

The funding follows the company’s strong progression and first significant commercial traction. Including this new capital, together with a previously awarded €2.5M EIC Transition Grant and earlier investments, ScopeBio has secured comprehensive funding to scale up and build out its platform for real-world diagnostic challenges.

The round represents continued backing from existing investors SHIFT Invest and Oost NL. Scope Biosciences has developed its scopeDx technology to enable diagnostics closer to the source, addressing challenges in both agricultural and healthcare markets where centralised laboratories are not readily available.

Scope Biosciences: Ultra-precise, field-ready diagnostics without proprietary hardware

At the heart of Scope Biosciences’s mission is its next-generation CRISPR-based molecular diagnostics platform — scopeDx — that delivers ultra-precise, single-nucleotide detection in a portable, field-ready format without proprietary hardware or centralised labs.

The technology enables earlier and more effective detection of crop diseases in agriculture, helping to reduce losses and improve yields, whilst in healthcare, it contributes to faster and broader access to reliable testing, especially in areas where centralised laboratories are not available.

The molecular diagnostics market is experiencing significant growth as demand increases for point-of-care testing solutions that can operate outside traditional laboratory settings.

From Wageningen research to commercial diagnostics platform

CEO and founder Niek Savelkoul built the company as a spin-off from Wageningen University & Research, leveraging deep technical expertise in molecular diagnostics.

SHIFT Invest brings sector-specific experience in agricultural technology investments, whilst Oost NL focuses on regional innovation with global relevance in 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.

Regional innovation hub driving global diagnostic solutions

ScopeBio is embedded in the vibrant innovation ecosystem of the East Netherlands region, operating from the Wageningen Campus. The company has demonstrated commercial traction in agricultural diagnostics while 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.