Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan, an Indian post-doctoral fellow at Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s most prestigious research institute is the first international student winner of “The Falling Walls Lab Science Competition,” hosted by the German Institute Taipei.
Common Wealth Magazine, Taiwan’s leading English magazine described Dr. Navaneethan’s award winning biomedical research and his story as an Indian achiever in Taiwan as an example of the “growing impact of Indian students in Taiwan’s science fields” who choose to work in Taiwan after competing their degree.
The Editorial Team of The Indo-Pacific Politics recognizes Dr. Navaneethan as a case of a new breed of India-Taiwan achievers. His achievement is also an accomplishment of India-Taiwan Education diplomacy which has particularly gained pace in the last decade. In an exclusive interview, The Indo-Pacific Politics talked with Dr. Navaneethan about his background and education in India; his journey and higher education in Taiwan and his suggestions to Indian students about Taiwan as a destination.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: Tell us about your educational background and how you arrived in Taiwan.
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: I did all my schooling in my hometown, Aruppukkottai, a small township in southern Tamil Nadu, before moving to Chennai in 2010 to pursue a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Nanotechnology at SRM Institute of Technology (formerly SRM University).
In 2014, I was fortunate to join Prof. Seeram Ramakrishna’s lab at the National University of Singapore for my final-year project. I ended up staying there for about a year and a half, where I learned electrospinning for nanofiber fabrication under the mentorship of Profs. Seeram Ramakrishna and Jayarama Reddy Venugopal. This was my first real exposure to research, and it shaped my future path.
Towards the end of my stay in Singapore, I started applying to Master’s and PhD programs in Europe and Asia—including University Grenoble Alpes, University of Barcelona, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) at Academia Sinica. I was lucky to receive multiple offers with scholarships, including from TIGP. Since I already had some research publications, I felt confident about skipping a Master’s and directly pursuing a PhD. That’s how I chose TIGP and came to Taiwan in 2015.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: How did you benefit from Taiwan’s research ecosystem, and what’s unique about it?
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: I can best explain this through the example of TIGP, as I’ve been part of it myself. TIGP offers 13 interdisciplinary PhD programs ranging from Nanoscience, Sustainable Chemistry, Neuroscience, Bioinformatics, and Agricultural Biotechnology, to newer fields like Artificial Intelligence.
What makes it unique is that it’s run by Academia Sinica, Taiwan’s top research institute, in collaboration with leading universities such as National Taiwan University, National Tsing Hua University, and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University. This joint structure gives students access to world-class labs, facilities, and expertise across institutions.
In my case, I pursued my PhD in Biomedical Engineering in Prof. Chia-Fu Chou’s lab at the Institute of Physics, focusing on the Physics of Active Biological Matter (PALM). I benefited a lot from this flexible setup, as it allowed me to combine physics, biology, and engineering in my research.
Another unique aspect is the TIGP scholarship, which is highly competitive and attracts students from more than 40 countries. The diverse, international environment and the interdisciplinary approach really make Taiwan’s research ecosystem stand out.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: Tell us about your award-winning research project.
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: The project that won first prize at the Falling Walls Lab Taipei is based on a technique I developed during my PhD, called Autopilot single-jet 3D electrospinning. This method has already received the National Innovation Award and the Future Tech Award.
The application we presented focuses on solving the problem of metal implant failures [in human body]. Many implants fail because their surfaces are not very cell-friendly, which prevents good bonding with the surrounding tissue. When implants loosen, patients often face painful revision surgeries that are expensive and don’t always reduce the risk of failure.
Our solution is simple but innovative: we create a soft fiber layer on the implant by wrapping it with electrospun PCL fibers. These fibers act like a cushion and, because they are porous, they encourage cells and tissues to grow into them. PCL is already FDA-approved and used in medical devices and sutures. Over time, the fibers degrade and are replaced by natural tissue, which helps stabilize the implant.
Our early results are very promising. We are now collaborating with Dr. Chen, a maxillofacial surgeon at Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, to test this in animal studies. The long-term goal is to apply it in mandible bone reconstruction for patients who suffer trauma or oral cancer.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: What are your plans for the future?
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: Right now, we are working on developing clinical products from our techniques. For example, we are making PCL sheets and meshes for soft tissue repair in skin, tendons, and muscles, in addition to improving metal implant integration.
I am also working on a cardiac patch for treating heart attacks (myocardial infarction). Current treatments don’t fully prevent the progression of heart damage into heart failure. With our technique, we can make a strong, heart-shaped fiber patch that not only withstands the heart’s constant beating but also supports the delivery of stem-cell–derived heart cells. These cells can integrate with the patient’s heart and help in recovery.
This kind of research takes years of effort and requires close collaboration with medical experts for animal testing before moving to clinical trials. Over the next few years, I will be focusing on advancing these projects step by step.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: What message do you want to give to Indians looking for research opportunities in Taiwan?
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: Taiwan offers many exciting opportunities for international researchers, and in recent years, more students from India have been coming here for their projects.
The Taiwan International Graduate Program (TIGP) offers a unique scheme called TIGP-X, where PhD students from Indian universities can spend up to three years in Taiwan, working under joint mentorship, with financial support from Academia Sinica and access to world-class research facilities. TIGP also runs an International Internship Program, which allows Bachelor’s or Master’s students in their final year to spend two months in Taiwan, with funding support. This experience helps students explore academic research and decide whether they want to pursue a PhD.
Apart from Academia Sinica, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) also runs PhD programs with local universities. While Academia Sinica focuses more on academic research, ITRI emphasizes applied research with strong industry partnerships, which can be great for students interested in industrial careers.
The Indo-Pacific Politics: Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers?
Dr. Balchandar Navaneethan: For our Indian readers, I’d like to say that Taiwan is a safe, welcoming, and beautiful country, just a short flight from India. It offers strong opportunities in both academia and industry. Taiwan is home to global companies like TSMC, the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer, and Foxconn. After completing their studies, international students often find it relatively easy to get jobs here thanks to simple visa rules and the possibility of permanent residency.
Indians are known for their sincerity and hard work, and I believe many more can use these opportunities to build successful careers while contributing to both Taiwan and India.
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