“We plan to enter India, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam to improve the safety of researchers”

As biotech research laboratories, in both industry and academic settings, engage in increasingly complex projects worldwide, ensuring the safety of personnel, equipment, and the surrounding environment becomes paramount.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

Beyond the immediate health impacts, accidents can disrupt the scientific process, leading to data loss, damage to expensive equipment, and significant delays in research progress. Focusing on these critical aspects, South Korea-based startup Connietec has developed innovative solutions that were launched during the recently held ICPI Week 2025 event in South Korea. BioSpectrum Asia spoke with Aden (Seong-Ho) Do, Chief Executive Officer of Connietec, to find out more about the startup's new product line addressing lab safety. Edited excerpts:

Which are the new products launched by Connietec at the ICPI Week 2025?

ConnieTOP, which was released in ICPI Week 2025, is a safety cap system that prevents or purifies fume volatilisation of organic solvents and waste liquid when operating instrument by connecting with analysis instrument such as liquid chromatography that uses a lot of organic solvents such as methanol and acetonitrile, so that it can protect the environment of the laboratory and the health of the researchers and achieve reproducible experimental results.

First, the solvent bottle safety cap (CT-SSC, Solvent Safety Cap) uses a filter designed to prevent the solvent from volatilising out of the solvent bottle when the solvent flows into the analysis instrument, and this filter (CT-CVF12M, Check Valve for 12 Months) applies a PE-based Frit that is different from other companies' membrane filter types, increasing the recommended usage period to about one year compared to six months of other companies’ products, which can be managed at a lower maintenance cost.