Matex International is a home grown SGX-Main board listed Specialty Chemicals Company that makes, formulates and distributes its products and services across various industries globally.
As a forward looking SME that believes in commercially viable research and development (R&D), it aims to translate these efforts to become a world leader in clean colour science technologies and solutions.
“From inception in 1989, we have recognised the need to develop sustainable, low-carbon impact and effective dye and chemical solutions to vastly reduce the negative impacts on environment as textile dyeing processes are a major cause of industrial fresh water pollution around the world,” said Dr Alex Tan, CEO & Managing Director of Matex.
Of recent, its flagship product ranges like Megapro System can help reduce 25% and more water usage and can result in one-third less time at least compared to conventional systems. In its relentless mission to develop eco-friendly products, it was awarded “Specialty Chemicals Company of the Year” by Frost & Sullivan in their Singapore Excellence Awards 2013 and named a finalist in the Singapore Sustainability Award (Green Technology) in 2012.
Although it has a strong in-house R&D capability, the other reason for Matex’s success today is the willingness to co-invest and collaborate with partners to find solutions. “Nowadays, the world is so connected and innovation happens at a much faster pace. It is not enough to rely solely on company’s own R&D activities to develop new co-innovate to reduce the time-to-market and business risk, said Mr Dro Tan, Executive Director of Matex”.
Matex currently has multiple projects with external collaborators in the pipeline to develop eco-friendly products and processes. For example, through the technology sourcing and assessment assistance of IPI Singapore, Matex was matched with a start-up company to develop and trial on wastewater treatment technologies.
“IPI’s facilitation and crowdsourcing solutions have helped the company unlock new capabilities which can create multiple and rewarding business opportunities for Matex to grow,” said Dr Alex Tan.
As a leading player in the specialty chemicals industry, Matex International recognised early on the significant environmental impact of textile dyeing processes, which are a major cause of industrial fresh water pollution worldwide. The company faced the dual challenge of developing sustainable, low-carbon impact dye and chemical solutions while maintaining commercial viability and competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global market. Despite possessing strong in-house R&D capabilities, Matex understood that relying solely on internal innovation was insufficient to keep pace with the accelerating speed of technological advancement and market demands. The need to co-innovate, reduce time-to-market, and mitigate business risks became increasingly apparent as the company sought to deliver eco-friendly products and processes that would set new industry benchmarks. Matex also aimed to expand its global footprint and unlock new business opportunities by enhancing its technological capabilities, particularly in areas such as wastewater treatment and resource efficiency. Achieving these goals required access to external expertise, novel technologies, and strategic partnerships that could complement and strengthen Matex’s innovation journey.
IPI Singapore facilitated technology sourcing and assessment for Matex International, matching the company with a start-up partner to co-develop and trial advanced wastewater treatment technologies. By leveraging IPI’s crowdsourcing solutions and extensive innovation network, Matex was able to identify and access external expertise that complemented its internal R&D strengths. Through IPI’s facilitation, Matex embarked on multiple collaborative projects with external partners to accelerate the development of eco-friendly products and processes. This approach enabled Matex to reduce the time-to-market for new innovations, share business risks, and unlock new capabilities that support sustainable growth. IPI’s support empowered Matex to pursue its mission of delivering clean colour science solutions while expanding its global business opportunities.
"From inception in 1989, we have recognised the need to develop sustainable, low-carbon impact and effective dye and chemical solutions to vastly reduce the negative impacts on environment as textile dyeing processes are a major cause of industrial fresh water pollution around the world."
"Nowadays, the world is so connected and innovation happens at a much faster pace. It is not enough to rely solely on company’s own R&D activities to develop new co-innovate to reduce the time-to-market and business risk."
"IPI’s facilitation and crowdsourcing solutions have helped the company unlock new capabilities which can create multiple and rewarding business opportunities for Matex to grow."
Matex International is a home grown SGX-Main board listed Specialty Chemicals Company that makes, formulates and distributes its products and services across various industries globally. Founded in 1989, Matex has established itself as a forward-looking SME with a strong commitment to research and development, aiming to become a world leader in clean colour science technologies and solutions.