In 1997 the Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI), located in Detroit, Michigan, created the Center for Cancer Economics, Technology Assessment, Innovation, and Development (CETAID) to leverage the Institute's applied research and commercial development activity. In order to achieve this leverage, CETAID was designed to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to target and oversee appropriate applied research projects with an eye towards achieving breakthrough results.

In parallel, the Director of the KCI pharmacology core, Dr. Ralph Parchment, saw an opportunity to accelerate applied research on promising anticancer drugs from lab to bedside development by placing the applied research into a commercial entity. Dr. Parchment teamed with CETAID's outside executive director, Earle T. Holsapple III, to form SciTech with a mission of optimizing previously shelved anticancer drugs and developing them for specific indicated uses.  Although, SciTech is a privately held, independent company, its close proximity with KCI and Wayne State University (WSU) encourages significant synergy from each organization’s vision. 

In addition, it has solid IP agreements with WSU/KCI allowing for unencumbered collaboration. Most importantly, it maintains its independence in order to focus on rapid development and targeted commercialization.