Bangladesh's semiconductor ambitions depend on tighter industry-academia collaboration: Experts

Bangladesh has no shortage of talented students, but without stronger collaboration between industry and academia, the country will struggle to establish itself in the global semiconductor value chain, experts said on Thursday (29 January).

They stressed the need for modern laboratories across universities, increased research funding, inclusion of experienced faculty members, and the formulation of big-tech-friendly policies to develop a sustainable semiconductor and deep-tech ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Entrepreneurs also called for greater confidence in tackling emerging challenges such as AI packaging and digital twin technologies.

These views were shared at a panel discussion titled "Bangladesh's Position in the Global Semiconductor and Deep-Tech Value Chain: From Consumer to Producer", held in Dhaka.

The session was moderated by Dr Towhidur Rahman, professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering of BRAC University. Panelists included Md A Jabbar, president of the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA); Dr Nadim Chowdhury, assistant professor at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); Lin Hai (Heaven), vice president for South Asia and Board Director at Huawei; Nahian Rahman Rachi, head of Business Development at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA); and Rudmila Naushin, founder and CEO of ConfigVR and ConfigRbot.

Joining the discussion virtually from the United States, Dr Muhammad Mustafa Hossain, Professor at Purdue University, said Bangladesh already has professionals working at the highest global level in the semiconductor industry.

"Many Bangladeshis are contributing to the semiconductor sector at the global frontier. We want to accelerate Bangladesh's progress in this field, which is why I joined this discussion despite the late hour," he said.

Highlighting the innovation-driven nature of the sector, he added, "Semiconductors are fundamentally rooted in innovation, and universities are the source of that innovation. To make our talented students industry-ready and to establish Bangladesh in the global semiconductor ecosystem, the government, academia, and non-resident Bangladeshi professionals must work together."

BSIA President MA Jabbar described semiconductors as a challenging but highly promising sector for Bangladesh.

"Deep tech is not easy. However, semiconductors could become Bangladesh's next major growth frontier. Our biggest gap is the lack of hands-on, practical experience," he said.

He noted that initiatives such as CREST and the BEER Summit have begun to address this gap but stressed the urgency of policy support.

"If industry and academia can work together in a coordinated way, the potential is enormous," he said.

Discussing the value chain, Jabbar said Bangladesh is focusing on semiconductor design, fabrication, and packaging and testing.

"Skill development is just as critical as infrastructure. Through local and international partnerships, Bangladesh can enter semiconductor packaging. Now we must simultaneously focus on company growth, skills development, and employment generation," he added.

Nahian Rahman Rachi, head of Business Development at BIDA, acknowledged the country's current limitations.

"Bangladesh is significantly behind in the semiconductor sector. There is no alternative to skills development if we want to move forward," he said.

Rudmila Naushin, Founder and CEO of ConfigVR and ConfigRbot, pointed out that neighbouring countries have already made substantial progress.

"To position Bangladesh in this sector, we need training labs, structured internship programmes, and at least one year of mandatory industry exposure embedded into university curricula," she said.

She also emphasised the need for curriculum reform and experienced faculty members to meet industry demands.

BUET Assistant Professor Dr Nadim Chowdhury urged a multidisciplinary approach.

"We must not confine semiconductor development to a single academic discipline. Students from other fields should also be trained and integrated into this sector," he said.

He highlighted structural challenges within universities, noting limited opportunities, faculty shortages, and a lack of skilled engineers.

"Only a handful of companies are currently working in semiconductors in Bangladesh, and they are simultaneously training and developing skilled professionals," he added.

From an investment perspective, Lin Hai (Heaven), vice president for South Asia and Board Director at Huawei, underscored the importance of policy stability.

"To attract foreign investment into Bangladesh's semiconductor sector, the country needs sustainable and long-term policy frameworks," he said.

He added that Bangladesh's growing engagement in semiconductor design is encouraging but cautioned that continued progress depends on stability. "Advancing further will require a stable government and consistent policies."