Bangladesh is stepping up its semiconductor research and innovation drive, with 18 researchers selected for funded projects, 16 home-grown innovations chosen for CES 2027 and GlobalFoundries preparing to interview research fellows for engineering jobs.
The developments were announced at Silicon River NEXT 2026, held at Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) in Dhaka on Wednesday, bringing together government officials, academics, industry representatives and student innovators.
The 18 researchers, representing 10 universities and working on 11 projects, will receive Tk24.6 lakh in research support under the Neural Semiconductor-backed CREST 2027 programme. Their projects cover advanced memory, agentic artificial intelligence, 3D integration, RISC-V, quantum electronics and photonics.
The programme also recognised 10 CREST 2026 fellows.
GlobalFoundries will hold on-site interviews in Dhaka on 15 November for CREST 2026 fellows, with a view to recruiting them into full-time engineering roles. Any offers will be subject to the company’s recruitment process.
Meanwhile, 16 innovations from 13 academic institutions have been selected for the Bangladesh Innovates Pavilion at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2027, scheduled for 6–9 January in Las Vegas. The selection comprises 10 hardware and six software and AI solutions, covering healthcare devices, bionics, assistive technologies, agricultural drones, solar-cleaning robotics, smart grids and AI applications. The showcase aims to connect the projects with international customers, investors and industrial partners.
The participating institutions are Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, University of Dhaka, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, American International University-Bangladesh, Islamic University of Technology, AUST, North South University, BRAC University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, University of Chittagong, International Islamic University Chittagong and Aalborg University of Denmark.
Research infrastructure is another focus. The first YES Collaborative Research Center, backed by US semiconductor equipment maker Yield Engineering Systems (YES), will be led by the University of Dhaka’s Semiconductor Technology Research Centre. The consortium also includes the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, BRAC University, Islamic University Kushtia and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
The centre will use a YES-G1000 plasma processing platform for semiconductor processing, packaging, device research and digital twin development. Equipment dispatch is targeted by 31 December 2026, with consortium members covering shipment, installation and operating costs.
The Silicon River Student Branch network now spans more than 60 universities, while its vFabLab has recorded more than 6,100 users, according to the organisers. Other efforts include the BUET STAR facility, the revival of a Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission laboratory and workforce training under the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, which targets 3,500 trainees.
Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, attended as chief guest. M A Jabbar, president of the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association and managing director of Neural Semiconductor, was the special guest. AUST Vice Chancellor and Purdue University Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, chief architect of Silicon River Bangladesh, also attended.
Future targets include a GlobalFoundries Advanced Design Kit initiative in 2027, an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test joint venture by 2028 and a 180-nanometre microelectromechanical systems fabrication facility by 2029. A $14 million Digital Twin and Test Hub is also proposed.
Silicon River Bangladesh aims to help the country move beyond dependence on imported technology by developing research, intellectual property, products and engineering talent for global markets.
