IIT Gandhinagar Celebrates Taiwan Day, Strengthening Academic and Industrial Collaborations

The Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN) hosted Taiwan Day on March 29, 2025, at its campus, bringing together corporate representatives from prominent Taiwanese companies to explore collaboration opportunities with the institute. The event highlighted IITGN’s commitment to fostering international partnerships and advancing academic-industry ties.

The gathering commenced with a presentation by Prof Mithun Radhakrishna, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering and Associate Dean, Post Graduate, Academic Affairs, IITGN, who provided an overview of the academic programs offered at IITGN. Prof Radhakrishna emphasised the flexibility and interdisciplinary nature of the institute’s curriculum, noting its role in shaping students’ careers.

Following this, Prof Sivapriya Kirubaran, Kankuben Bakshirambhai Gelot Chair Professor, Chemistry, and Dean, Student Affairs, IITGN, discussed IITGN’s initiatives aimed at the holistic development of students. She highlighted the state-of-the-art facilities available to students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds and the significant financial assistance provided to support their education. Prof Kirubaran also underscored the institute’s extensive social outreach activities that extend IITGN’s impact beyond the campus.

Prof Kaustubh Rane, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering, and Faculty In-charge, Career Development Services (CDS) and Placements, then shared insights into the role of CDS in shaping students’ career trajectories. “We do not call ourselves a mere placement cell; our goal is to build our students’ careers and prepare them for their ultimate professional journey,” said Prof Rane. The presentation was followed by an interactive session where Taiwanese companies expressed interest in offering internships and employment opportunities to IITGN students.

The event also featured a campus tour, showcasing key facilities such as the library, sports complex, laboratories, and research park. Representatives from Taiwanese organisations, including Ms Anoushka Banerjee from Taiwan Education, Mr Wang Shang Bo from Gigabyte, Mr Vic Lin from Taitra (Mumbai), Mr Leon Chang from MSI, Mr Brian Yen from Maxxis India, and Mr Pierre Qu from HerShin Precision, shared their insights into the current state, future developments, and talent requirements within their companies.

A key moment of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IITGN and the Taiwan Chamber of Commerce in Maharashtra (TCCMW). This MoU establishes a framework for collaboration between the two organisations in areas such as industrial research, technology development, innovation, hiring, internships, and talent development. Through this partnership, the institutes aim to organise seminars, workshops, guest lectures, and training programs, engaging experts from both sides.

As part of the agreement, TCCMW will assist Taiwanese companies in recruiting talent from IITGN. At the same time, IITGN will help students explore opportunities within the Taiwanese market and recommend them to relevant companies. The Taiwanese companies are also invited to establish a presence in IITGN’s research park, facilitating early-stage partnerships with students and faculty. Additionally, the MoU outlines plans for joint research initiatives with potential for commercialisation, where IITGN will allocate resources such as research personnel, laboratory facilities, and technical expertise.

IITGN and TCCMW also plan to facilitate student participation in industry projects and internships, with TCCMW offering consultation and referrals for Taiwanese enterprises seeking to recruit IITGN students.