Great Ideas: Naresh Menon

By Laura Farmer

Naresh Menon has always been fascinated by ideas that solve meaningful problems and improve people's lives. That passion led him to found ChromoLogic in 2007, an innovation center focused on tackling complex challenges in healthcare, aerospace, and defense.

“ChromoLogic is an innovation center. We focus on transformational change in healthcare, aerospace, and defense. We do not pursue incremental improvements—we focus on deep problems that require transformational solutions,” he explains.

His team is advancing a range of innovations, from energy-efficient computing systems inspired by the way the human brain processes information to new methods for tracking surgical implants and engineering bacteria that can produce therapies within the body.

Deep Solutions for Higher Ed

It is little wonder that Naresh has applied that same passion for solving complex problems to another field he cares deeply about: higher education.

“There’s something so special about our U.S. education system,” he says.

A native of Kochi, India, Naresh immigrated to the United States in 1989 and earned a bachelor's degree with honors and a doctorate in physics from Purdue University.

“Coming to a large university and seeing the diversity of ideas coming together, plus having an incredible mentor who was more like a brother, was instrumental in my life. It changed me fundamentally,” he says.

The crucible of a university shapes who you become. These institutions are open, competitive, and transformative. That is why it is important for all of us to lean in—financially and emotionally. These institutions create better thinkers who go out and make real improvements in our world.

Naresh Menon

Great Ideas at Maryland

Naresh initially became involved with the University of Maryland because it was the school of choice for his son, Rudra, a computer science major. A Clark School staff member recognized that Naresh's experience could contribute far beyond that of a proud parent and connected him with John Fisher, chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering.

“John and I hit it off immediately. We connected through a shared vision, and I've been on his advisory board for about eight years now. My commitment to the department and its vision is very deep,” Naresh says.

Naresh later joined the Clark School's Board of Visitors, where he has helped advance the school's reputation and impact. He also established the Menon Family Entrepreneurial Award in Bioengineering, which provides funding for promising projects while building long-term support for future generations of engineers.

“For me, entrepreneurship is a way to live the American dream—translating ideas into impact. I wanted to create a seed fund that encourages people to see entrepreneurship as both a career path and a source of wealth creation—not just for individuals, but for communities. The department created a program that incentivizes faculty to secure funding and spin out companies. This award supports a student working alongside the winning faculty member.”

“My gift is being used by the department to support research that is being done by faculty members where undergraduate students are involved. The vast majority of the research in bioengineering is translational, which means it’s not just research for research’s sake or research in a vacuum in a lab. It’s actually designed to be taken out of the lab and put to real use.”

Changing the World

The program is already showing promise. In its first cohort, a faculty member and student team are developing a high-precision device for brain surgery and have founded a company to bring the technology to market.

Naresh finds inspiration in solutions like these, which emerge from the unique ecosystem of the Clark School.

“What we’re doing is offering an opportunity for everyone to benefit from technology created in the American education system. No other system brings together global and domestic talent in the same way. This system is the fabric of our society because it’s where we all grow up. The crucible of a university shapes who you become. These institutions are open, competitive, and transformative. That is why it is important for all of us to lean in—financially and emotionally. These institutions create better thinkers who go out and make real improvements in our world.”

Published June 25, 2026