Bangladesh's semiconductor awakening: From momentum to a nation of innovation

The past year has marked a historic inflection point for Bangladesh's semiconductor ecosystem. What once appeared as fragmented ambition has evolved into a coordinated national movement, linking education, research, industry, diaspora expertise, youth energy, and policy intent. 

Bangladesh is not yet a semiconductor nation, but it is unmistakably becoming a nation of innovation, grounded in realism and driven by purpose.

At the heart of this transformation lies the Silicon River vision — a unifying ecosystem framework that aligns initiatives, institutions and people under a shared national strategy. Silicon River is not a slogan; it is an organising principle that connects foundational education to advanced research, local industry to global markets, and national priorities to international best practices.

A major contributor to this progress has been the leadership of the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), which has helped organise industry voices and align them with academic and national objectives. 

In this context, special recognition is due to Neural Semiconductor, whose commitment and sponsorship made the establishment of CREST (Center of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology) possible. 

CREST now stands as the intellectual and research nucleus of Silicon River — anchoring advanced research, cleanroom engagement, and industry-relevant innovation.

The ecosystem has matured through a coordinated stack of initiatives. CREST leads advanced research and experimentation. SARA, in partnership with Synopsys, provides access to global-standard VLSI design tools. BASICS strengthens foundational semiconductor literacy across universities, while BOOST integrates learning resources and training pathways nationwide. 

Looking ahead, BRIDGE articulates a long-term commitment to strengthen 40 STEM-focused universities through sustained investment, faculty development, and global collaboration.

Several milestones reinforced this momentum. The STAR facility hosted at BUET emerged as a national anchor for semiconductor research and training, awaiting timely government acceleration. A three-year VLSI training and global certification program with Synopsys, designed to certify 5,000 engineers, demonstrated unprecedented academia–industry alignment, even as administrative indecision temporarily slowed execution. 

The Malaysia Roadshow validated Bangladesh's growing regional and global credibility, while the National Semiconductor Policy, now in draft form, provides a strategic umbrella that must be matched with execution discipline, procurement reform, and regulatory clarity. More roadshows are planned in 2026.

Institutional integration is also advancing. Work is underway with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to include semiconductor research and training within national fellowship programs. The BCSIR thin-film laboratory is being aligned with CREST, and the BAEC cleanroom is under revival to support scaled-up training, hands-on education, and applied research.

Equally defining has been the human dimension. The BEAR (Biotechnology, Electronics, AI and Robotics) Summit brought together foreign dignitaries, global experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and an energised youth population. This momentum reflects the spirit of the July Uprising of 2024, when Bangladesh's youth demanded accountability and are now channeling that energy into semiconductors, robotics, AI applications, and entrepreneurship.

The role of NRBs has been transformative. Through BRAINGAIN, diaspora scientists and engineers moved from symbolic engagement to active contribution — shaping curricula, mentoring talent, opening global networks, and enabling real semiconductor work to flow into Bangladesh.

Challenges remain — flawed procurement processes, opaque tax policies, institutional inertia, and the temptation of visibility without competence. But the direction is clear. The age of mediocrity is over — here and abroad. Semiconductors reward discipline, collaboration, and leadership. If this collective resolve holds, Silicon River — anchored by BEAR, guided by policy, and powered by youth and NRBs — can help transform Bangladesh into a true nation of innovation.

Muhammad Mustafa Hussain is a professor of ECE at Purdue University, US.

MA Jabbar is the president of the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) and managing director of Neural Semiconductor Ltd, Bangladesh.