Koos Kranenborg | Photo: Morpho Biotech
In just three months, Koos Kranenborg and his team set up a company that will make a difference in biotech innovation. The result: on July 1st, the brand-new company Morpho Biotech, located on the edge of Leiden Bio Science Park, close to Leiden Central Station and the city center, was launched. And with an ambitious portfolio of products and suppliers.
After Cell Signaling Technology (CST) announced in March of this year that it would discontinue BIOKÉ, which had been part of the CST Europe corporate umbrella since 2009, Koos Kranenborg immediately decided to take the step to establish a new company in Leiden. In fact, the foundation for Morpho Biotech was laid already twenty years ago, when Kranenborg launched BIOKÉ. Before that, he had gained extensive experience at various life science companies active in the field of molecular biology and molecular diagnostics. The concept: having a cup of coffee with the client, listening carefully to each other, and exploring the best solution for the client’s problem. This has always remained Kranenborg’s approach, and it also applies to the newly established Morpho Biotech. Its core principles are knowledge sharing, networking, a keen eye for technology, and commercializing new ideas.
Strengthening life sciences
At its founding, Kranenborg focused on the things that had made BIOKÉ so successful. Successes stemmed from, for example, the use of high-resolution melting curve technology (the ‘LightScanner’) in plant breeding and next-generation sequencing applications in molecular diagnostics. Or the delivery of a special proofreading enzyme that was superior to the standard (the ‘Phusion’ enzyme). In short: focusing on innovations that make a difference in life sciences. Because, according to him, it’s all about surprising the user, with knowledge sharing as the foundation. ”
“We make the difference through knowledge sharing. We not only supply reagents, consumables, or equipment, but we also connect our customers directly with suppliers. This creates shared knowledge, which only strengthens the life sciences industry,” says Koos.
“By respecting everyone and being open to as many people as possible, you will obtain the best information”
Koos Kranenborg
Biotech network is key
A large and strong network is key in biotech research. Koos: “It’s a small world. By respecting everyone and being open to as many people as possible, you will obtain the best information. The desire to understand technology as thoroughly as possible and see all the ins and outs is also paramount. And through all these contacts, issues are examined from multiple perspectives: if something is not right, you will know it immediately, and you simply have to discuss it with the customers. Honesty is everything.”
Hardshell plates
A great example of innovation: purple hardshell PCR plates. Colored PCR plates? Yes, PCR plates that suddenly appeared on the market in a hard, and thus inflexible, form. In 2005, Kranenborg visited one of his clients with the plates, who immediately recognized their added value. “Purple brought color to the lab. That was something entirely new at the time. And the plate, which was previously made of the flexible polypropylene, suddenly became suitable for automated PCR.” It marked the breakthrough of a product that initially seemed unspectacular. Talking about a keen eye for the market!
A selection from the portfolio of Morpho Biotech | Photo:Morpho Biotech
Lean, organized, and scientifically driven
Morpho Biotech is tightly organized: Koos works with a team where everyone does what they do best. He collaborates with finance specialists, Enterprise Resource Planning experts [ERP; software that integrates key business processes, red.], and several consultants in specific areas. He also receives scientific support from several top European researchers. Furthermore, he primarily focuses on the commercial side of the business, but he is also keen to stay close to the technology. In his spare time, he is interested in the latest developments in automotive technology. “Fascinating, the electrical development in countries like China,” according to Koos.
E-BLOT and the commercialization of great ideas
Kranenborg and his team have a nose for promising ideas. For example, the Chinese company e-BLOT supplies the Touch Imager System for image analysis of western blots. Koos took a demonstration device to a customer and shortened and improved the imaging process from 15 minutes to just 1 second. “A real treat for the customer. Listening carefully to my customers benefits both of us.” The same applies to the fact that Kranenborg and his team are hands-on and see the latest developments unfolding up close, such as those at the Leiden Bio Science Park. Think of the potential of valuable ideas from an academic lab, commercialized for application in the life sciences. “Knowledge sharing enables you to seize opportunities.”
“We focus primarily on what the customer needs, rather than offering a huge range of options”
Future perspective
“Morpho Biotech is being given a chance,” concludes Kranenborg. A welcome bonus for a newly established company. It is all about trust. “Because we are open and honest with customers and take everyone seriously, we quickly connect with new partners. They are happy to give us the new business, and they are eager to continue working with us. We are primarily active in multi-omics, single-cell technologies, and protein/cellular analyses. Since we decided to launch Morpho Biotech in April, we have worked incredibly hard together, but it has been more than worth it.”
Kranenborg: “I am bursting with energy, and our entire team is eager to make it a success!” And so, the Dutch biotech world has gained another valuable and ambitious player.
