Taiwan's textile companies have over the years developed strong manufacturing capabilities and had one point generated the most foreign exchange for the country, said Bai Chi-chung, who assumed the post of TTRI president on Feb. 4 after being selected by the organization's board of directors. However, the production of low-end garments and fabrics could no longer ensure a competitive edge against rivals from low-production cost nations such as China and India. Finding a way out by focusing on higher-end, higher-value products has thus become a challenge facing Taiwan manufacturers, he said.

According to Bai, industrial textiles present a special niche for Taiwan manufacturers, who have gained a competency in making synthetic fibers, the major components of industrial textiles.

Some of the industrial textile products Taiwan can focus on, Bai said, were dust-free room filters needed by factories.

"Most such filters are imported due to the difficulty of making them," Bai said. "Taiwan can first work to replace these filter imports with locally made products, and then export them to countries where they are needed. I think this would be a viable strategy for developing a robust filter-making sector."

Bai also described what he envisions as the role of TTRI. In his words, the research institute runs the "first leg" of the relay race towards technology and service excellence of the textile industry. It finds an area of research that it feels is needed in Taiwan, and develops a technology or product for manufacturers to commercialize, Bai said.

The new president also finds an inherent interdependency between TTRI and textile manufacturers. "The business sector is more sensitive to market trends. They tell us what products or technologies are needed, and we provide the prototypes for them," he said.

Despite his success, Bai can't help but recall his humble beginnings. An undergraduate of Feng Chia University, which is lackluster compared to national-level universities, Bai worked his way up to eventually get a Ph.D. in polymer engineering from University of Tennessee.

"I've met many kind people who helped me along the way, and I'm eternally grateful to them," Bai said. "Yet I also believe in the virtues of diligence and hard-working -- principles that will guarantee success."