Genetech Corporation Genetech Corporation was a medical research company and droid manufacturer . Founded during the time of the Galactic Republic , Genetech Corporation pioneered the use of droids to automate their operations , resulting in thousands of job losses but creating a healthy profit for the company . Genetech ' s decision to create their own droid labour force contributed to the growing anti - droid sentiment , especially in the Outer Rim Territories . After Genetech ' s reputation took a hit when an anti - viral serum did not meet expectations , the Corporation funnelled its efforts into building droids for the commercial market , most notably in the administrative and supervisor y fields . Description . Genetech Corporation was a large company initially specializing in pharmaceutical research and development before retooling and entering the droid production market . While not as expansive as the likes of Cybot Galactica or Industrial Automaton , Genetech was considered to be one of the biggest and oldest droid manufacturers in the galaxy . History . Genetech Corporation began as a pharmaceutical production company during the years of the Galactic Republic . When the usage of droids became widespread , Genetech ' s board authorized the acquisition of a small droid manufacturing facility , and began to build their own droids to automate a large percentage of their operations , mainly among its holdings in the Outer Rim Territories . The resulting replacement of organic workers by droids increased the Corporation ' s profits immensely by reducing employee payment overheads through the firing of thousands of assembly line workers . The move was highly controversial , and was one of the causes of anti - droid sentiment in the Republic , especially in the outlying areas of the Outer Rim . A virulent hive virus hit Genetech Corporation ' s reputation when its anti - viral serum — which had been much promoted by the company — failed to meet expectations , leaving Genetech stock at an all - time low . Genetech had , however , channelled earlier profits into buying several more droid manufacturing facilities to augment the original one . After several years , along with several legal battles that ended lucratively for Genetech , the Corporation retooled itself and began manufacturing and selling droids aimed at the medical market . Genetech ' s successful entry into the droid market translated into huge profits for the company , and they became one of the galaxy ' s largest droid manufacturers by the time of the Galactic Civil War . Initially starting out producing medical droids , the Corporation soon branched into the accounting , administration , and book - keeping droid markets . Noted for their successful supervisory and administrative droid lines , Genetech foundered when it produced the PIP / 2 systems control droid . Genetech market research believed that they had found a new niche to exploit when they noted that the operation of control boards were still mainly handled by organic operators . Although a few units were completely automated through the use of artificial intelligence and microprocessor s , many control boards were designed with switchboards and button key input controls . Various factors , ranging from cost , to security , and even convenience , were cited for the reason that this was the case . Manual input control boards were found in a variety of systems and locations , including air traffic control and municipal services . The organic operators manning these systems were often overworked which in turn led to mistakes that the were costly to correct . Genetech decided to design and market a specialist droid to fill the niche ; admittedly , the niche was a small gap in the market , but the competitive nature of the galactic droid market meant that any possible business opportunity had to be taken seriously . The PIP / 2 was rushed into production with a huge investment , despite the fact that it was targeting a small market . Before long , cost overruns and logistical delays conspired to make Genetech ' s financial year a disaster unless the PIP / 2 sold in record numbers . The PIP / 2 failed spectacularly ; advertized as " glitch - proof , " the units developed multiple problems and were easily overwhelmed by excessive visual and auditory stimuli , causing them to push the wrong controls in a vain effort to keep up with the emerging problem or shutting down altogether . Genetech responded quickly , recalling as many droids as possible and patching them to perform perfectly . However , the damage was done . With the droid ' s reputation tarnished , few companies were willing to gamble using them . The PIP / 2 continued production for two years until discontinued , forcing Genetech to temporarily refocus on its medical supply market until the public memory of the PIP / 2 failure receded . The venture left Genetech in the red for several years . At some point after the formation of the Galactic Empire , Genetech became embroiled in legal battles with the similarly named Geentech , a small medisensor manufacturing company which had entered the medical droid market with the successful 2 - 1B surgical droid . Genetech claimed that Geentech ' s name infringed on several Genetech copyrights . With little interference from Imperial Court officials , Genetech tied Geentech up in expensive copyright litigation . Bankrupted , Geentech was run out of business by the larger corporation , and rumors circulated that Genetech had offered the Galactic Empire large discounts and trade inducements in exchange for a result that favored them . Genetech then acquired Geentech ' s assets cheaply , apart from the 2 - 1B surgical droid which was part owned and produced by Industrial Automaton . Products . 2JTJ personal navigation droid . The 2JTJ personal navigation droid was designed to assist the newly blind to navigate their surroundings . Eighty percent of the units sold were to medical concerns such as hospitals and rehab centers , while the remainder were bought by individuals . In either case , they were used to assist partially sighted and blind individuals recover and adapt to their new situation , or to assist them in their daily lives . Genetech also found success in marketing the droid to non - Human races , such as the Miraluka and Sljee who often found their own alternative senses overwhelmed in large megalopolises such as Coruscant . 3D - 4X administrative droid . In response to Cybot Galactica ' s dominance over the protocol droid market , Genetech produced the 3D - 4X administrative droid . Realizing that they could not compete to the new industry standard set by the 3PO - series protocol droid and their AA - 1 VerboBrain , Genetech designed a limited function protocol droid that was geared towards systems administration rather than diplomacy . Produced on Mechis III , the 3D - 4X series were employed as personal assistants to businessbeings who required an aide capable of being both an administrator and with the ability to take initiative . Highly intelligent , 3D - 4X units were often used as primary trade negotiators . A2 Accounting / Business Unit . A successor to Genetech ' s earlier A1 series business droid , the A2 Accounting / Business Unit was a hemi - spherically shaped droid designed to operate as a personal account manager and negotiator . Unfortunately for Genetech , the SkillWare engineers failed to work out bugs in the A2 ' s personality module which resulted in them being poor negotiators . However , the A2 series was skilled at determining relative market values and were efficient accountants . A2 series units cost 8 , 000 credits to buy new , and were found all over the Corporate Sector and in financial institutions in the Core Worlds . PIP / 2 systems control droid . Although a failure for Genetech , the PIP / 2 , once patched , performed its job admirably . Designed to operate control boards meant to be operated by organic beings prone to making mistakes through overwork and anxiety , the PIP / 2 had optical sensors installed three - hundred and sixty degrees around their heads , making them capable of watching the entire control board at once . The droid ' s eight limbs could operate the control panel with more speed and dexterity than an organic operator . Unfortunately , the PIP / 2 never recovered from its shambolic inception , and only a few of these droids were in operation until late in the Galactic Civil War . Behind the scenes . Genetech was first mentioned in the of " " , published by West End Games in 1996 . The mention was in reference to the 2 - 1B surgical droid ; however , " The Star Wars Sourcebook " published in 1987 had asserted that the 2 - 1B line had been manufactured by the similarly named " Geentech . " A year later , " " addressed the confusion , with the two similarly named companies being independent entities involved in a copyright legal battle over the similar name . However , " " still listed Genetech as the creator of the 2 - 1B when it was released in 1998 . Genetech garnered mentions in " Lords of the Expanse " , released in 1997 , and the roleplaying game adventure " " , included in " Star Wars Adventure Journal 15 " . " The Essential Guide to Droids " , published in 1999 , provided more information on Genetech ' s history , as did " Look Sir , Droids ! , " an article in 2001 ' s " Star Wars Gamer 3 " . Genetech received mentions in three articles in " The Official Star Wars Fact File " dealing with the 2 - 1B medical droid , the PIP / 2 systems control droid , and the 3D - 4Z administrative droid between 2002 and 2004 . Also in 2004 , " The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology " mentioned the company in a list of major manufacturers , and 2006 ' s " The New Essential Guide to Droids " provided an overview of the company . Genetech received several mentions in " The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia " , published in 2008 , despite not receiving its own entry . In 2009 , Genetech was first mentioned in an in - universe narrative in " " , while 2010 ' s " Galaxy of Intrigue " also mentioned the company .