Govt to provide grants to 78 research and innovation projects

The government is going to award grants to 78 research and innovation projects aimed at developing cutting-edge technology-driven solutions across diverse fields, including cybersecurity, environment, agriculture, education, health, transport and cultural preservation, officials said.

In addition to financial support, they said, researchers and innovators will be benefitted from a comprehensive range of resources, including assistance in establishing startup formation, institutional backing, commercialization of their products, intellectual property rights (IPR) protection, expert mentoring, and state-of-art laboratory facilities at the Research and Innovation Centers (RICs) establishing in 10 universities.

According to sources, the selected research and innovation projects are being funded through the Research and Innovation Centers (RICs) which are being established under the World Bank-financed Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division.

Mohammad Manir Hossain, joint secretary of ICT Division and project director of the EDGE Project, emphasised the significance of a meticulous evaluation process in selecting research and innovation proposals from industry and academic researchers.  "It was crucial to assess these proposals rigorously to ensure their long-term impact and feasibility," he said.

Explaining the evaluation criteria, Manir Hossain focused on key aspects: sustainability, relevance, business model and economic viability, which were center to the selection of a proposal.

He further stressed that the outcomes of research and innovation—key drivers of a thriving digital economy—would play a pivotal role in accelerating Bangladesh's digital transformation.

These innovations, he added, have the potential to foster technological advancements, enhance economic resilience, and position Bangladesh as a competitive player in the global digital landscape.

Faruq Ahmed Jewel, component team leader of the EDGE Project, said that they received an overwhelming response, with nearly 2,000 research and innovation proposals submitted by researchers from both academia and industry.

The evaluation process, conducted in three rigorous phases by domain experts, involved an initial assessment by a leadership committee from Research and Innovation Centers (RICs), a detailed review by industry, academic, and government experts and final approval by World Bank experts.

This multi-tiered evaluation approach, Jewel emphasised, ensured a thorough and objective selection process, prioritising projects with the highest potential for sustainability, impact, and economic viability.