The Centre of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology (CREST) was inaugurated at BRAC University yesterday, marking a significant step towards becoming a “nation of innovation” and a credible participant in the global semiconductor ecosystem.
The inauguration ceremony was held under the broader Silicon River Ecosystem, Bangladesh’s national framework designed to integrate Biotech, Electronics, AI and Robotics (BEAR), at BRAC University in Merul Badda in the capital.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star’s Google News channel. Welcoming the initiative, BRAC University Vice Chancellor Prof Syed Ferhat Anwar emphasised the university’s commitment to advancing frontier research, nurturing innovation-driven talent and supporting national priorities in science and technology.
Attending as the chief guest, Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, underscored the country’s commitment to research-led technological advancement and innovation-driven economic transformation.
MA Jabbar, president of the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) and managing director of Neural Semiconductor Ltd, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of indigenous capability building, industry–academia collaboration and export-oriented semiconductor growth.
The ceremony also highlighted BOOST, Bangladesh’s national semiconductor virtual hub, which will be developed and led by the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST).
In a video message, MIST Commandant Major General Nasim Parvez outlined the institute’s role in structured workforce development, national training infrastructure and execution-oriented delivery.
Harish Balan, director at Synopsys, reaffirmed the company’s support for Bangladesh’s academic ecosystem through global-standard design tools and collaborative research.
Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain of Purdue University, USA, said Bangladesh’s transformation would be driven not by population size, but by impactful ideas, focused execution and the ability to build world-class technology brands.
The ceremony announced the inaugural CREST Fellowship, supporting eight graduate and two undergraduate students. It also recognised the winners of the BEAR Summit Competition, celebrating innovation among students and young professionals. The BSIA awarded Tk 5,000 to each winning individual or team.
Prof Upama Kabir, dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Dhaka, acknowledged the collective effort of the government, industry and the diaspora in making CREST a reality, stressing the significance of mentorship in nurturing the next generation of researchers.
CREST has been established as a national research hub focused on advanced semiconductor technologies, including AI-centric chip design, VLSI systems, robotics, materials, packaging, testing and next-generation hardware platforms, said a press release.