Vivantis Technologies is committed to entering new markets

Niche firm aims at global market
DNA

Among the first wave of Malaysia’s BioNexus status companies, Vivantis Technologies demonstrates the international potential of a firm working in a niche market.

Specialising in the production of restriction enzymes, DNA extraction kits, DNA amplification re-agents and other related products for molecular biology research, Vivantis Technologies is among the flag bearers of the country’s biotech sector, with subsidiaries in Singapore and the United States and representative offices in India and the UK.

Currently, Vivantis has 36 distributors around the world and product sales are picking up. “We have been in the global market for over a year now and things have been looking quite positive, especially from the UK where we can get a lot of orders,” says Chief Executive E.L. Law.

Vivantis has teamed up with partners across Europe to boost its corporate profile and sharpen its technological edge. This level of international collaboration has allowed the firm to expand its range and product pipeline since its inception.

“This is why we have a lot of active collaborations because we hope to produce more products, especially those that are high-end and value-added,” says Mr Law.

E.L. Law CEO of Vivantis Technologies

Funding comes from Maybank, the largest bank and financial group in Malaysia, and the Malaysia Technology Development Corporation. With resources like these behind it, Mr Law hopes to move up a gear.

In one current project, Vivantis is leveraging its expertise in the DNA field while its Dutch partners are specialists in plant protein work. “We are coming up with a very special pre-cast instrument that we can use to separate DNA,” he says. “This is one of the things that we are working on very closely right now.” A launch is imminent.

Although it is a highly niche market, the global nature of the biotechnology sector means international engagement will continue to play a vital role in the company’s future development. This presents its own set of challenges for a smaller company to establish its name on the global platform, taking part in trade shows and meetings around the world.

“So far the response has been great,” says Mr Law. “The global market is much bigger than the domestic market and we are excited about it.”

A recent bulk order from the UK is a big endorsement. “I am proud of our company’s commitment to innovation, entering new and relatively untapped markets that we thought were impossible to get into several years ago.”