Penn State, Taipei Tech announce 2026 research scholarships

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In 2026, National Taipei University of Technology, a strategic partner to Penn State, will provide up to 10 scholarships for Penn State students to engage in research and education collaboration at Taipei Tech.

The scholarship includes round-trip travel to Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, with the cost for airfare up to $2,000; two to six months lodging in Taipei; and a monthly stipend of NTD15,000 (New Taiwan dollars), or approximately U.S. $450, during the research period. The awardees are required to assist English Medium Instruction (EMI) courses and/or workshops, for an average of five hours each week. The length of the research at Taipei Tech will be a minimum of two months to a maximum of six months.

Located in central Taipei, Taipei Tech is a leading technological institute in Taiwan, specializing in green energy, cloud technology, sensor design and environmental innovation. With 10% of the alumni serving as founders, executives or board members of publicly listed companies, Taipei Tech maintains strong ties to industry and turns research into real-world solutions.

Taipei Tech and Penn State actively engage in areas spanning research collaborations, joint seed projects, EMI faculty training programs, global research opportunities and regular delegation visits. This multifaceted collaboration aims to drive sustainable, transformative impact locally and globally.

President Sea-Fue Wang, a 1979 alumnus of Taipei Tech and a 1991 alumnus of Penn State in ceramic science, invited Penn State students to Taipei Tech.

“Through collaborative research, you will gain valuable insights into a cross-cultural and groundbreaking research environment,” Wang said. “I sincerely invite you to visit us, make Taipei Tech part of your academic journey, and let us dare to dream for a better world together.”

Eligibility

• Applicants must be Penn State students who are in good academic standing and aspire to engage in research and education collaborations with Taipei Tech.
• Applicants from mainland China and Taiwan will not be eligible to apply.

Submission instructions

• Section 1: Cover page with the following information —
  • Applicant’s name, citizenship, Penn State ID number and "psu.edu" email address
  • Degree and program of study
  • Academic department or office
  • Contact information, including campus address
  • Desired dates of participation
• Section 2: A brief description (not more than two double-spaced pages) of the reason for undertaking the trip, including supervisory contacts at Penn State and Taipei Tech and expected outcomes of the research activities while on site.
• Section 3: One letter of support from Penn State
  • A letter of recommendation from the direct faculty supervisor at Penn State, describing how the proposed travel will contribute to research or education project(s), joint conferences, and/or co-publication(s).

Combine all three sections as one PDF document and upload it in InfoReady:

• Application Link in InfoReady
• Deadline: Monday, Jan. 26, 2026
• Award date: Monday Feb. 2, 2026

If awarded, awardees must:

• Register their travel in Penn State’s Global Safety Network.
• Participate in two sessions of pre-departure training.
• Coordinate their flights according to Taipei Tech’s travel protocol. The awards will be provided to the student awardee’s LionPath account to be used for travel expenses.
• Submit a summary report (a template for this report will be sent to awardees) outlining the outcomes of their visit within 30 days after completion of the trip.

Penn State Global supports student travel related to collaborative research and education activities with partner universities, said Sabine Klahr, vice provost for Global.

"Great discoveries begin with bold steps. A research scholarship with Taipei Tech, one of Penn State’s strategic partner universities and a premier research institution, isn’t just an opportunity — it’s a launchpad for your global career to hone research skills and experience intercultural growth in an international research setting,” Klahr said. “I encourage our students to apply and turn their curiosity and interests into impact.”

Questions regarding the scholarship program? Contact Anna Wei Marshall, associate director for Asia Partnerships at awm15@psu.edu.

Highlights of Taipei

As the capital of Taiwan, Taipei is a vibrant and diverse city that offers an ideal environment for international students — both academically and in daily life. Taipei offers a vibrant blend of tradition and innovation — where ancient temples and night markets meet cutting-edge tech and modern infrastructure. With its rich culture, friendly communities, low crime rate and efficient public transport, Taipei offers international students a safe, dynamic and enriching environment to live and learn.

Food lovers can enjoy everything from Din Tai Fung’s famous "xiao long bao," or soup dumplings, to local favorites like braised pork rice and bubble tea, with delicious and affordable meals found everywhere. Night markets like Shilin and Raohe are perfect for enjoying snacks, shopping and experiencing local culture.

For those interested in history, the National Palace Museum houses nearly 700,000 artifacts spanning 8,000 years of Chinese history — one of the world’s most impressive collections of Chinese art.

Around-the-clock convenience stores offer food, drinks, printing and more. The city’s transport system, including the MRT (mass rapid transit system), buses and train is efficient, clean and easy to navigate. Just outside the city, Jiufen offers charming old streets and mountain views, while Taroko Gorge provides a breathtaking escape into nature, reachable by public transport.

About Taipei Tech

Established in 1912, Taipei Tech has long and strong ties to industry and local enterprises, making the institution excel in translating the latest scientific inventions from research labs into solutions for real-world problems. Taipei Tech graduates are featured in Taiwan’s top-1000 enterprises, as declared by Cheers magazine, while Commonwealth magazine considered it "the best technological university in Taiwan."

The research work at Taipei Tech has attracted sponsorship and collaboration from major global industrial partners, such as TSMC, ASUS, HIWIN, ITRI, Delta Electronics, FOXCONN, COMPAL, Pegatron Corporation, and many more. Taipei Tech also was recognized as the No. 1 Paradigm Technological University by Taiwan’s Ministry of Education in 2012 and 2013 for its research and academic excellence.