SPARTANBURG, S.C. — OraTek Diagnostics, a life sciences company developing saliva-based testing technology, is establishing its headquarters in Spartanburg under a new partnership with Palmetto InnovaSphere, a local nonprofit that helps life science discoveries reach commercial markets, according to an Oct. 22 release from InnovaSphere.
The company, also known as OraTek DX, is concentrating first on drug screening and detection for law enforcement and public safety agencies, the release said. Over the longer term, OraTek plans to keep researching broader healthcare uses, including public health testing. Spartanburg.com reported that possible cancer detection is presented as a future research opportunity rather than an existing product. CEO Nate Keele said the company aims to advance “diagnostic technologies that make testing more efficient, accessible, and impactful.”
Under the agreement, InnovaSphere will work directly with OraTek’s leadership on commercialization strategy, industry partnerships, market expansion and possible manufacturing opportunities, according to the release. InnovaSphere CEO Cecilia Zapata-Harms said the organization stands apart through close, hands-on engagement with each company it supports. Neither the release nor Spartanburg.com disclosed a headquarters address, job count, investment figure or financial terms.
The announcement drew praise from OneSpartanburg Inc., the county’s economic development organization. Katherine O’Neill, its chief economic development officer, tied the decision to Spartanburg’s effort to diversify its economy into advanced diagnostics and life sciences, Spartanburg.com reported. That push has institutional backing: in July 2025, the Spartanburg County Foundation awarded InnovaSphere a $150,000 grant over three years to help recruit life sciences companies to the county, funded through a legacy donor fund dedicated to medical research, according to the foundation. The grant supports market analysis, targeted recruitment and partnerships with schools including USC Upstate.
For commercial real estate professionals, OraTek’s arrival is small in scale but notable in direction. Spartanburg County’s economic development pipeline has long been dominated by automotive suppliers, logistics and large-format manufacturing. Life sciences and diagnostics firms tend to need a different kind of space, including laboratory, research and light production facilities. Because InnovaSphere’s role explicitly includes exploring manufacturing opportunities, landlords and brokers holding flex or specialized space in the county will want to watch whether OraTek moves from headquarters to production in the Upstate.
The deal also signals that the county’s nonprofit-led recruiting model is beginning to land early-stage companies. If InnovaSphere can repeat it, Spartanburg could build a pipeline of smaller tenants that eventually grow into larger space users.
Sources: Palmetto InnovaSphere via EIN Presswire, Spartanburg.com, OneSpartanburg Inc., Spartanburg County Foundation
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