Although sustainability as a concept might look good in theory the real challenge lies in making these technologies practical, scalable, and useful to society.
Hardik Siriah, our next pathbreaker, works as Technical Lead at Trifilon ((Nyköping, Sweden), a company that develops and produces biocomposite material compounds (natural or bio-based fibers) that can be combined with polymers to create engineered materials that can replace conventional plastics in certain applications.
Hardik talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about being attracted to Chemical engineering because it is all about taking raw materials, applying science and process knowledge, and converting them into something useful.
For students, practical learning is extremely important. Books give you the foundation, but real understanding comes when you see a plant, a machine, a lab, a material, a failed experiment, or work on a real customer problem.
Hardik, Your background?
I grew up in Nagpur, Maharashtra. My father is a retired government employee, my mother is a homemaker, and I have two elder sisters. My eldest sister works as a project manager and has two master’s degrees, while my second sister is a study specialist, has an MPharm, and was a university rank holder. I am a materials scientist and engineer with degrees in chemical, materials, and energy engineering. When I look back, I feel my interest in engineering started quite early, even before I properly understood what engineering meant.
My father was a government employee working as an electrical engineer at Nagpur Municipal Corporation, and he was always interested in engineering things. We rarely needed external technical services, such as a plumber or electrician, because he would fix electrical issues and electronic appliances at home and tinker with small circuits, PCBs, machines, etc. As a child, I used to observe that with curiosity. I also had several MECHANIX sets. They are like an Indian version of Lego, but more mechanical, with tools such as wrenches, screws, and small parts that could be assembled into a helicopter, then broken down and made into a military truck or a rocket. At that age, I did not know terms like engineering mindset or product development, but I liked the idea that something could be built by putting small parts together in the right way.
Another early influence came from my father’s work at a water treatment plant. As a child, I did not understand the science behind water treatment, but the idea itself fascinated me. “How can dirty or polluted water be cleaned and made usable again?” Later, when I studied chemical engineering, I understood the processes behind it. But the curiosity had started much earlier.
As a school student, I was not someone who enjoyed education in the traditional sense. I was not very fond of studying something only because it was part of the syllabus or because the system asked me to do it. I was more interested in practical things and real-world applications. I liked computers, chemistry, physics, history and geography. Mathematics was not my favorite subject in school because I did not understand its real-world application at that time. Later, during engineering, I realized how important mathematics is when you want to solve real problems.
Chemistry became interesting to me when I first studied electrochemistry in high school. Batteries fascinated me because they connected chemistry with electricity. That was one of the first times I saw chemistry as something practical. It could power devices. It could solve problems. It was no longer only a subject in a textbook.
So, if I describe my childhood, I would say I was a curious child who wanted to understand how things worked. I was interested in building, inventing, and solving practical problems. I did not have a perfect career plan at that age, but I had a strong curiosity about how inventions are made and how engineering can turn ideas into real things.
What did you do for graduation and post-graduation?
I did my BTech in Chemical Engineering followed by a masters in Chemical Engineering. I also did a second masters in Energy Systems from University of Gävle, Sweden
Like many other aspiring 12th-standard students, I wanted to study at a premier engineering institute such as an IIT. Later, I dropped the idea of focusing too much on IIT-JEE and started preparing for BITSAT, as BITS Pilani had become my dream college. I could not get in because I scored 190, while the cutoff that year was 240. That broke my heart, but then I decided to stay in my hometown, close to my family.
I did my BTech in Chemical Engineering from Priyadarshini College of Engineering (formerly PIET, Nagpur), under RTM Nagpur University. During my bachelor’s degree, I worked on a thesis project in chemical engineering related to reactive extraction. The objective was to study recovery of Trans-Aconitic acid, which has industrial importance. The interesting part was that we explored whether chemical solvents could be replaced with natural, non-toxic solvents such as oils. That project was important for me because it matched the way I think. I was interested in whether a process could be made greener while still being practical. Can we replace something harsher with something more natural? Can we reduce cost and environmental impact while still achieving the required outcome? That thought later became a recurring theme in my work.
But my dream of studying at a premier institute never left me. I wanted to study at one of the top chemical engineering schools in the world, and Chalmers University was among the top 50 for chemical engineering. So, I moved to Sweden for my master’s studies.
I didn’t get a scholarship, I took an education loan for my master’s at Chalmers, I received the Adlerbertska Foreign Student Scholarship twice, which covered a some portion of my living costs. For my final semester, I did not have to pay tuition fees because I was holding a Swedish work permit, which gave me resident rights that exempted me from paying tuition. The same tuition-fee exemption also applied during my second master’s.
I studied Chemical Engineering at Chalmers and completed another MSc in Energy Systems at the University of Gävle. Chemical engineering became the foundation of my career because it gave me a way to understand transformation. In simple words, chemical engineering is about taking raw materials, applying science and process knowledge, and converting them into something useful. That can mean clean water, fuels, chemicals, materials, sustainable products, or industrial solutions.
What made you pursue such an offbeat, unconventional and unusual career in Sustainability and Chemical Engineering?
When I had to choose an engineering field, many people around me were choosing computer science, information technology, mechanical engineering, etc. But at that time, I wanted to choose something that felt unique, versatile and slightly different. I was interested in fields like metallurgical engineering, mining engineering, and chemical engineering. Chemical engineering attracted me because it was connected to many industries. It could connect with water treatment, energy, materials, sustainability, manufacturing, food, pharmaceuticals, environmental technologies, and many other areas.
At that age, I did not have a perfect long-term career map. I simply knew three things: I liked chemistry, I liked engineering, and I wanted to work on something that had real-world applications. Chemical engineering felt like a bridge between science and industry.
There were also a few turning points. One was my early curiosity about water purification because of my father’s work. Another was electrochemistry in school, especially learning about batteries. Later, my internships gave me a much deeper understanding of how engineering actually works in the real world.
My first internship was at a Common Effluent Treatment Plant in Nagpur. I worked in Quality Assurance and Quality Control and got hands-on experience with industrial wastewater treatment. I saw wastewater coming into the plant, samples being tested in the lab, and treatment processes such as chemical treatment, biological treatment, and filtration.
For a young chemical engineering student, it was powerful to see wastewater enter from one side and treated water come out from the other. Until then, engineering was mostly in books. At that plant, I could see that engineering could directly change the condition of something and make it useful again.
My second internship was at a biomass briquetting unit, where industrial and agricultural waste was converted into biomass briquettes. These briquettes could be used by industries as an alternative fuel. Biomass briquettes are compressed blocks of organic waste, such as sawdust, rice husks, and agricultural residues. Used as a renewable, carbon-neutral alternative to coal and firewood, they are widely used in industrial boilers, brick kilns, and for domestic cooking, providing a clean, cost-effective energy source. Again, I saw transformation. Waste material was processed, dried, compressed, tested, and converted into something useful.
Both internships had a common theme: turning waste into value. Wastewater could become treated water. Agricultural or industrial waste could become fuel. That idea of transformation became central to how I saw chemical engineering.
Another major influence was discovering the mineral carbonation technique during my third year. I came across Iceland’s Carbfix project and learned how carbon dioxide could be sequestered into basaltic rocks. That opened my mind to climate technology and Nordic innovation. I started asking myself: if this kind of technology can be developed in a small country like Iceland, why can’t something similar be explored in India, where basalt formations also exist?
That thought later became my startup idea, “Element A”, focused on a carbon capture concept based on mineral carbonation of basalt formations in the Deccan Plateau. I explored reaction engineering, process design, geological assessment, industrial scalability, business models, cost structures, and deployment potential in India for a year. The initiative was eventually paused because mineral carbonation at scale requires high capital expenditure and large infrastructure. Around that time, I moved to Sweden.
Element A taught me that innovation is not only about having a good idea. It is also about feasibility, cost, infrastructure, timing, and execution.
Looking back, there were a few key drivers that shaped this path for me.
One of my earliest influencers was my father. He was not someone who sat me down and told me to become an engineer, but I grew up watching him fix things, understand machines, and solve practical problems. At home, we rarely needed outside help for small technical issues because he would often repair electrical or mechanical things himself. That made engineering feel very natural to me. His work around water treatment also gave me an early curiosity about how engineering can serve society.
Another influence was my own curiosity about inventions. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the idea of how something is invented. I did not know the process, but I was attracted to the idea that humans can imagine something, design it, test it, improve it, and finally make it useful.
In terms of people and mentors, two people influenced the way I think. One is Elon Musk, mainly for his attitude toward radical innovation and risk-taking. I have not met him, of course, but I admire the way he attempts difficult problems where the outcome is uncertain but the potential impact is large. The second is Martin Lidstrand, my mentor, founder of Trifilon (where I work now). Working closely in that environment helped me understand what engineering means in practice. Engineering is not just a degree. It is about turning ideas into real products, solving problems every day, and staying close to the actual work.
There were also important events that pushed me in this direction. Studying electrochemistry in school was one of the first moments when chemistry felt practical to me, because batteries connected chemistry with electricity. My first internship at a wastewater treatment plant showed me that engineering could turn polluted water into treated water. My second internship at a biomass briquetting unit showed me that agricultural or industrial waste could become useful fuel. These experiences made me realize that chemical engineering is really about transformation.
The biggest turning point was discovering mineral carbonation during my third year based on Iceland’s Carbfix project that led to my first startup idea.
So, the key drivers were not one single person or one single moment. It was a combination of childhood exposure, curiosity, practical internships, mentors, sustainability, and the desire to build something useful. Over time, all these experiences pulled me toward chemical engineering, materials, sustainability, and real-world innovation.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Tell us about your career path.
I would not say I planned every step perfectly from the beginning. My career developed through curiosity, practical exposure, and the willingness to try new things.
The first major phase was my undergraduate journey in chemical engineering. The first year was challenging because engineering begins with many foundational subjects: mathematics, physics, engineering drawing, basic electrical engineering, applied chemistry, and thermodynamics. At first, I did not connect with every subject because I could not always see the real-world application immediately.
The real interest started building in the second year, when I began studying more core chemical engineering subjects. That was also when I became more serious about internships, research, and leadership.
During college, I was involved in the National Service Scheme (NSS). I became President at the NSS Cell, and led 600+ volunteers. We organized activities such as donation drives, blood donation camps, animal rights promotion, fundraising events, tree plantation projects, orphanage visits, adult education, city cleaning, awareness drives, and surveys.
That experience shaped my leadership style. I learned that leadership is not about giving orders. It is about taking responsibility, doing the work yourself, and creating an environment where others want to contribute.
Alongside academics, I explored research. One of my projects focused on India’s WEEE landscape, which means ‘Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment’. I studied the challenges and opportunities in e-waste management and how systems could improve in India. This later became one of my publications.
Another major phase was my move to Sweden. My interest in Sweden came through sustainability and technology. I was fascinated by how Nordic countries, despite being relatively small in size and less in manpower, had created such strong technology ecosystems. Sweden stood out to me because of its engineering culture, sustainability focus, and companies such as Volvo cars, Scania, Alfa Laval, ABB, Tetra Pak, Spotify, IKEA, and others.
I did not first discover Sweden as a study destination. I discovered Scandinavian technology first, and then Sweden became the place where I felt I could grow in sustainability and engineering.
When I arrived in Sweden, I experienced a major transition. The culture was different, the education system was different, and the way of learning was different. In Sweden, the learning was more independent, practical, and problem-driven. Students are often placed into situations where they have to think, solve open-ended problems, work on assignments, and apply concepts.
It was difficult in the beginning, but it suited my practical mindset. One lesson I learned during that time was that thinking is free. You can put as much thought into a problem as you want. If something is difficult, you come back to it, think again, try again, and slowly the solution becomes clearer.
My master’s thesis at Chalmers was on “Enhancing Dispersion in Biocomposites Using Ultrasonics.” The thesis involved developing a machine system that applied high-frequency ultrasonics to improve the mixing and dispersion of fillers in polymer compounds. In this work, I specifically focused on organic and natural fibers used in biocomposites.
How did you get your first break?
While studying in Sweden, I got my first professional break through Sustainergies, where I worked as a Consultant Materials Engineer. I worked across the R&D stack to help build and operationalize a materials laboratory from scratch.
I met someone senior from my university network who was already working and doing well. I was curious about his journey and asked him questions. During that conversation, he encouraged me to look for a job while studying. At first, I wondered why I should do that when I was still a student. But he explained that it would give me practical exposure and help me understand the industry better.
That advice stayed with me. I started applying for roles. I got my first professional break through Sustainergies™, where I was employed as a contractual Consultant Materials Engineer for a company called Trifilon™. There I worked across the R&D stack to help build and operationalize a materials laboratory from scratch. This included testing infrastructure, material characterization workflows, data systems, quality frameworks, material selection, testing, reporting, and process validation for biocomposite materials and industrial applications. This role was important because it connected my chemical engineering knowledge with practical industrial R&D.
Sustainergies is a recruitment and consulting company that hires consultants on a project basis. They mainly work with companies and organizations in Sweden that are active in sustainability-related areas.
Their customers can include companies working on clean technology, energy, circular economy, climate solutions, and other sustainability-focused projects. In my case, Sustainergies employed me as a consultant, and I worked with Trifilon as a Consultant Materials Engineer.
Later, I joined Trifilon in Nyköping, Sweden. I started as a Consultant R&D Technician, working as a materials engineering consultant and translating chemistry and chemical engineering knowledge into practical applications in industrial R&D and materials development.
After that, I became Development Engineer R&D & Lab, where I was responsible for lab operations, material development workflows, product development, testing, industrial validation, material qualification, process optimization, customer-driven development, extrusion and molding, analytical characterization, and innovation or IP development.
The lesson I learned was simple: do not wait around. Take an extra step and find your edge.
I often think of it like basketball. If you throw one ball, you have one chance. If you throw ten balls, your chances of scoring are higher. The same applies to opportunities. The more sincere attempts you make, the more chances you create for yourself.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: Adapting to a new education system and culture
Moving from India to Sweden was a major transition since the culture, the education system, and the way of learning were all very different.
In India, I had experienced a more structured academic system. In Sweden, the learning was more independent, practical, and problem-driven. At first, it was difficult. But I adapted by returning to problems again and again, thinking deeply, asking better questions, and trying different ways to solve them. That experience made me more independent. It also taught me that uncertainty is part of learning.
Challenge 2: Entering an industry I had not seen before
When I entered the biocomposites industry, it was new for me. This field did not have strong visibility in India at that time, so I had very little practical background in it.
I had to learn from the ground up: extruders, injection molding, analytical equipment, raw materials, testing, formulations, process development, and industrial validation. Over time, hands-on learning helped me build confidence.
I realized that in engineering, you cannot learn everything only by reading. You have to work with machines, materials, data, failures, and people.
Challenge 3: Learning that innovation takes patience
One of the hardest lessons came during IP development. During my master’s thesis, I was leading research that later became a patent.
The process was not smooth. For months, things did not work as expected. There were many trials, errors, iterations, tests, and improvements. That experience taught me the real side of innovation. A successful result often comes after many unsuccessful attempts.
Struggle is not proof that you are incapable. It is part of the process.
As a child, I used to wonder how inventions were made. Years later, being part of an invention showed me that inventions are not magical moments. They are built through curiosity, failure, repetition, discipline, and persistence.
Where do you work now?
I currently work at Trifilon™ in Nyköping, Sweden. I started as a Consultant and R&D Technician, working as a materials engineering consultant and translating analytical chemistry and engineering knowledge into practical applications in materials development.
After that, I became a Development Engineer, where I was responsible for lab operations, material development workflows, product development, testing, industrial validation, material qualification, process optimization, customer-driven development, extrusion and molding.
Currently, I work as Technical Lead at Trifilon™. I am part of the R&D and materials team, working on development and sales of biocomposite materials, data-driven material qualification frameworks, experimental workflows, innovation, IP development, and customer-focused material solutions.
Trifilon is a materials technology and manufacturing company working in the field of biocomposites. Trifilon develops and produces biocomposite material compounds. In simple words, these are materials where natural or bio-based fibers are combined with polymers to create engineered materials that can replace conventional plastics in certain applications. This can include automotive, consumer products, packaging, furniture, industrial components, construction-related applications, and other plastic product sectors.
These products are not just for India, it’s global. Trifilon is based in Sweden and is expanding its production capabilities in international markets. The India initiative is mainly about establishing a plant in India to develop and manufacture localized biocomposite and bioplastic compounds, especially by exploring Indian agricultural residues and local supply chains.
Some applications are chairs, cutlery, luggage, car parts, food containers, etc.
What problems do you solve?
My work involves developing and optimizing these materials so they are sustainable and practical for the industry. A material cannot be environmentally friendly only on paper. It also needs to perform well, be manufacturable, be cost-efficient, and meet customer requirements. I work on lab formulation, mechanical and thermal testing, process optimization, prototype development, commercial validation, and material qualification. I also support cross-functional teams in turning research into market-ready solutions.
I have also contributed to international expansion initiatives by developing localized material systems in India, using agricultural residues to support supply chains and reduce raw material dependency. In many ways, my current work allows me to stand between Sweden and India, between research and industry, and between science and real market applications.
What skills are needed for your job? How did you acquire them?
The role requires a combination of technical and practical skills. Some important technical skills are engineering, materials science, polymer processing, process optimization, data analysis, and experimental design. But technical skills alone are not enough. You also need problem-solving, patience, communication, teamwork, business understanding, and the ability to connect R&D with production and customer needs.
I acquired these skills step by step. My chemical engineering education gave me the scientific foundation. My internships taught me how industrial systems work. My roles at Trifilon taught me how to develop materials from lab scale toward industrial validation.
What is a typical day like?
A typical day can include many different things, which is what I enjoy. Some days involve lab work, testing materials, analyzing results, or planning experiments. Some days involve working with the core team to understand/manage process behavior. Other days involve discussions with our commercial partners in India. Indian customers, their commercial teams, or internal teams to understand application requirements. I may work on sales planning, prototype development, process troubleshooting, documentation, or planning the next experimental steps.
I like this variety. I do not enjoy doing only one narrow task every day. I prefer to get exposure to different parts of the work. I like physical, hands-on work. I enjoy being close to machines, prototypes, tools, and manufacturing. In my free time, I enjoy vibe coding and experimenting with AI tools, software, and tinkering with 3D printing.
I am interested in AI, software, and digital products too, but I do not want to spend all my time only behind a screen. I like creating things that can be touched, tested, improved, and used.
What do you love about this job?
What I love most is that the work is real. It is practical and physical. You can create a formulation, process it, test it, see it fail, improve it, and eventually turn it into something useful.
I also love that the work connects sustainability with industry. Many sustainability ideas sound good, but they become meaningful only when they can work in real industrial conditions. At Trifilon™, I get to work in that space: making sustainable materials practical, scalable, and useful.
For me, that is the exciting part of engineering. It is the process of turning an idea into something real.
How does your work benefit society?
The common thread in my work is sustainability through practical engineering.
My career has touched several areas connected to society and environment: wastewater treatment, biomass energy, e-waste management, carbon capture concepts, greener chemical processes, biocomposites, international development projects, and student mentorship.
At my first internship during Btech, I worked on wastewater treatment and environmental compliance. At my second internship, I worked on biomass briquettes that could be used as an alternative industrial fuel. Through my first startup ‘Element A’, I explored carbon capture using mineral carbonation of basalt formations in the Indian context. At Trifilon™, I now work on biocomposite materials that aim to replace conventional plastics at scale while balancing sustainability with manufacturability, cost efficiency, and performance.
I also worked with Engineers Without Borders Sweden™, leading international development projects across healthcare infrastructure and sustainable construction. That role involved project selection, feasibility analysis, stakeholder coordination, risk assessment, execution planning, and long-term impact thinking.
For me, a good solution should be good for the environment and practical enough for people and industries to use.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you.
One of the most memorable works very close to me was building ‘gradbees®’, a startup two of my friends and I built on the side.
gradbees® started from a very real problem I had seen around me. Many Indian students dream of studying abroad, but the process is often confusing. Students have questions about universities, applications, student life, expenses, countries, courses, and career opportunities. Traditionally, many students depend on study-abroad consultancies, but I felt that students should also be able to speak directly with people who had already walked that path. That idea became ‘gradbees®’. We wanted to connect Indian students with international students and professionals who could guide them from real experience. Over time, gradbees® grew into a community with 3000+ members, 400+ mentors from top global universities, and international students from 12+ countries. What made gradbees special to me was that it was not only a business idea. It was connected to my own journey. I had moved from India to Sweden, and I knew how many questions, doubts, and small decisions are involved in that process. I also knew that one honest conversation with the right person can sometimes save a student from confusion or a wrong decision.
Even though I now work deeply in materials and sustainability, gradbees® remain one of the most meaningful things I have built because it helped students make more informed decisions about their future.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
My first advice is: do not blindly follow a career because everyone else is choosing it. Try to understand what kind of problems excite you. If you know what type of problems you enjoy solving, your career path will slowly start making sense.
Second, do not wait for the perfect opportunity. Take more shots. Apply, ask, explore, talk to people, try internships, build small projects, and learn from practical exposure. The more attempts you make, the more chances you create for yourself.
Third, do not judge a subject too early. I did not enjoy mathematics much in school because I did not see its application. Later, engineering showed me why mathematics matters. Sometimes a subject becomes interesting only after you see what it can do.
Fourth, practical learning is extremely important. Books give you the foundation, but real understanding comes when you see a plant, a machine, a lab, a material, a failed experiment, or a real customer problem.
Fifth, failure is part of the process. When something does not work, it does not always mean you are wrong. It may mean the idea needs more testing, more thinking, or a different approach. I do not think resilience means you never feel bad after failing. You do feel bad. But after that, you decide whether failure is the end of the story or just one scene in the story.
Finally, remember that engineering is not only a degree. Engineering is a way of turning ideas into reality. Almost everything around us, from large technologies to small everyday objects, exists because someone worked hard to design, build, test, and improve it.
Future plans?
When I look ahead, I want to keep creating things. For me, creating means building real technologies, physical products, machines, systems, and useful solutions. I am inspired by people who take big risks to create something new, but I also want my work to have a strong sustainability angle. If people remember me as someone who kept creating, kept learning, and kept pushing useful technologies into the real world, that would mean a lot to me.
My strongest interest is in things that can move from idea to reality.
I don’t just want to work on ideas that look good on paper. I want to build real technologies, physical products, materials, machines, or platforms that solve problems for people and industries.
In the future, I would like to continue working at the intersection of the circular economy, green technology scale-up, manufacturing, and international collaboration. My long-term goal is to help build technologies that are practical, sustainable, and ahead of their time.