Biomechanics Company Receives a BioNest Grant from Greater Winston-Salem Inc. to Support Continued Growth
Elemance, a biomechanics engineering company that was launched out of Wake Forest University Health Sciences, is expanding into a larger footprint within the Innovation Quarter to accommodate planned growth. The project is expected to generate $200,000 of investment and create five jobs over a three-year period. The company’s expansion is supported by a BioNest Grant from Greater Winston-Salem Inc.
Elemance develops and licenses cutting-edge virtual human body models, engineering software, and simulation tools used to help organizations evaluate how products and technologies interact with the human body. The company works with clients in the automotive, defense, aerospace, healthcare, and sports industries to improve safety and human performance.
The expansion will increase the company’s capacity to meet security compliance and other certification requirements needed to accept government-funded projects.
“Our engineering team has doubled in the four years that we’ve been operating in Bailey South, and we anticipate continued growth,” says Matt Davis, Chief Operating Officer for Elemance. “Given our close partnerships with Wake Forest University, Winston Starts, and other organizations in the life-sciences ecosystem, remaining in Winston-Salem was a priority.”
Elemance will relocate to a space in the Plant 64 building, more than doubling its current footprint.
Elemance also provides specialized biomechanics engineering services that help organizations answer complex research and design questions. Its engineers develop custom modeling solutions and work alongside internal R&D teams to extend simulation capabilities and generate deeper insight into how product designs affect the human body.
“Elemance is a perfect example of the intended outcomes of the life-sciences innovation system being created in the Innovation Quarter,” says Isaac Perry, Head of Biotech and Life Science Ecosystem Development for the iQ and Greater Winston-Salem Inc. “We want to create an environment where ideas grow and companies are launched, and we want to offer office and laboratory spaces that fit those companies through all their phases of growth.”
“Companies like Elemance are continuing to invest in Winston-Salem and cultivate talent here,” says Ellis Keifer, Vice President of Economic Development for Greater Winston-Salem Inc. “We believe those commitments deserve our support. We are excited to support the company’s growth through the BioNest Fund.”
The BioNest Fund supports life sciences companies expanding or locating in Winston-Salem and is made possible through the Whitaker Park Development Authority.