Tunghai University Ranks First in Taiwan, Top 30 Globally in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology

The 2026–2027 Best Global Universities by Subject rankings, published by U.S. News & World Report, have placed Tunghai University at 28th globally in the field of Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology, entering the world’s top 30 and ranking first among all universities in Taiwan. President Kuo-En Chang stated that the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and the Department of Life Sciences have been among the university’s most representative departments since its founding. To date, Tunghai has nurtured over 15 academicians of Academia Sinica, with more than eight in chemistry, chemical engineering, and biomedical fields—Academician Tang-Tang even served as Vice President of Academia Sinica. Amid the accelerating convergence of AI, biotechnology, and sustainable development, the university will continue deepening interdisciplinary research and international collaboration.

The U.S. News Best Global Universities ranking is one of the most influential international university evaluations. Supported by research data from Clarivate, a global academic database and research analytics provider, the ranking assesses institutions based on multiple indicators including academic reputation, research output, citation impact, international collaboration, and scholarly influence. It has long been highly regarded by higher education institutions worldwide.

This year, 250 universities were ranked in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology. Tunghai University’s 28th-place finish marks the highest achievement among Taiwanese institutions, showcasing Taiwan’s outstanding accomplishments in biochemical sciences on the global stage.

The top ten institutions this year are Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Stanford University, University of Cambridge (UK), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Zhejiang University, University of Pennsylvania, China Agricultural University, and University of California, Berkeley—all leading global research universities.

President Kuo-En Chang noted that Tunghai’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Department of Life Sciences were established in 1955, making them the oldest biochemistry-related departments in Taiwan. Their long-standing contributions to fundamental life sciences, biotechnology, and microbiology have culminated in this remarkable achievement. The exceptional contributions of Vice President and Chair Professor Chia-Hsiu Chang from the Department of Chemical Engineering were particularly instrumental, demonstrating Tunghai’s robust research capabilities and international academic influence in biotechnology and applied microbiology.

Tunghai Provost Chao-Tung Yang highlighted that the university has been intensifying interdisciplinary research and industry-academia collaboration in recent years. By integrating research resources across chemical engineering, life sciences, biotechnology, smart healthcare, precision health, and sustainable development, Tunghai is actively advancing cutting-edge technology R&D. Faculty are encouraged to engage in high-quality international research, enhancing academic impact and building distinctive, internationally recognized research profiles.

Vice President Chia-Hsiu Chang, who led the team to this outstanding result, emphasized that Tunghai has consistently achieved strong results in various international rankings. These include being ranked 85th globally and 3rd in Taiwan in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Impact Rankings, with SDG 17 'Partnerships' ranking 14th globally. Tunghai also ranks among the top-tier universities in Taiwan in the QS Asia University Rankings. This latest recognition from U.S. News further validates the university’s long-term commitment to biotechnology research and highlights Taiwan’s competitive strength in global scientific research.

President Kuo-En Chang stated that AI is rapidly reshaping biotechnology research—from drug discovery and precision medicine to smart agriculture—ushering in transformative breakthroughs. Tunghai’s achievement of ranking first in Taiwan and within the global top 30 in biotechnology and applied microbiology is the culmination of sustained research efforts by faculty and students. Going forward, Tunghai will continue integrating artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and sustainable innovation, deepen interdisciplinary research, expand global partnerships, cultivate next-generation talent, and elevate Taiwan’s visibility and influence in international scientific research.