Integrated DNA Technologies

In 1987, Dr. Joseph Walder founded Integrated DNA Technologies, or IDT, in Coralville, Iowa. The company was established as a spinout from the University of Iowa, starting within a business incubator at the university's Technology Innovation Center. IDT's core business is manufacturing custom DNA and RNA oligonucleotides, which are essential components for research in molecular biology, genomics, and biotechnology. The company focused on developing proprietary technologies to produce high-quality nucleic acids for applications like PCR, next-generation sequencing, and CRISPR gene editing. This focus on quality and innovation allowed IDT to grow steadily, serving over 130,000 researchers across academic, pharmaceutical, and diagnostic markets. Within its first decade, the company expanded from a small startup to a significant player in the life sciences field. A major turning point for the privately-held company came in March 2018 when it was acquired by Danaher Corporation, a global science and technology conglomerate. The deal was valued at approximately $1.9 to $2 billion. This acquisition allowed IDT to operate as a standalone brand within Danaher's Life Sciences platform, gaining access to greater resources to expand its global reach and accelerate innovation, while maintaining its founder-led identity.