BEAR Summit and National Semiconductor Symposium 2025 conclude in Dhaka

With enthusiastic participation from stakeholders across government, industry, academia, and the Bangladeshi diaspora, the country has successfully concluded its first-ever BEAR Summit 2025—Biotech, Electronics, AI and Robotics Summit—alongside the National Semiconductor Symposium.

The two-day summit, held from 16 to 17 July at the National Science and Technology Complex in Agargaon, Dhaka, was organised by the ICT Division and supported by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and the Enhancing Digital Government Economy (EDGE) Project. The event marked a rare convergence of semiconductor experts, AI researchers, policymakers, and students, setting the stage for a transformative era in Bangladesh's technology and innovation landscape.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser, Mr Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, who oversees the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT, remarked, "Building a sustainable semiconductor ecosystem requires interoperability, cybersecurity, ethical governance, and environmentally friendly technologies. Bangladesh must develop its own foundational technologies, including Bangla-language LLMs and a trusted semiconductor infrastructure."

Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain of Purdue University, USA, praised Bangladesh's potential, saying, "A resilient and determined country like Bangladesh can lead the future by nurturing local talent, attracting global collaboration, and achieving technological self-reliance. This summit was not just an event—it marked the beginning of a tech-driven national journey, laying the foundation for a knowledge-based and innovation-led Bangladesh."

The summit hosted more than a thousand university students and featured senior officials from leading semiconductor companies including MediaTek, SK Hynix, SanDisk, GlobalFoundries, Tokyo Electronics, and Innovex. Bangladeshi expatriate experts and high-level government representatives were also in attendance.

Nearly 10 thematic sessions addressed issues such as AI talent development, AI policy and regulation, cybersecurity, biotech applications in healthcare and environment, robotics in industry, and the semiconductor workforce. A dedicated segment explored the role of non-resident Bangladeshis in the global semiconductor ecosystem and opportunities for building a local semiconductor industry.

Over 40 exhibition stalls showcased innovative technologies developed through local research, drawing attention and appreciation from participants.

Organised under the theme "Bangladesh as a Nation of Innovation," the summit highlighted the country's growing capacity in deep-tech sectors and presented a roadmap for positioning Bangladesh as an emerging leader in the global innovation ecosystem.