Medical Tech Company Varian Names Atlanta New East Coast Hub

Velocity was started by researchers at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University and received early funding from the Georgia Research Alliance.

“We were mildly concerned, because we have seen smaller companies incubated in our state acquired by larger companies,” said Michael Cassidy, president of the Georgia Research Alliance. “Sometimes that’s really the only pathway to success and too often what happens is we say goodbye. We were delighted that Varian decided not only to keep this team together here in Atlanta and help them grow, and even growing their own presence in Georgia.”

Kolleen Kennedy, senior vice president of Varian, said the new Atlanta office would help the company add staff to its commercialization, service, support and research and development teams.

“Our acquisition of the Velocity group was part of a larger strategy to produce more tools and software that support our clinical customers,” Kennedy said in a statement. “The new facility in Atlanta will enable us to foster greater collaboration across our teams and make sure that we have the space to accommodate future growth.”

Kennedy added that making the Atlanta office Varian’s East Coast hub will make it easier for European clients to test out the company’s products, rather than having to fly out to California. 

U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, state Sen. Hunter Hill and state Rep. Beth Beskin were also present at the ribbon-cutting.