BracU’s emergence in semiconductor research with CREST
On December 29th, the inauguration of the Center of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology (CREST) was hosted at one of the partner institutions, BRAC University, held under the umbrella of the broader Silicon River Ecosystem, Bangladesh’s national framework integrating Biotech, Electronics, AI and Robotics (BEAR). CREST, a national research hub has been established with a view to foster advanced semiconductor technologies. Which includes AI-centric chip design, VLSI systems, robotics, materials, packaging, testing and next generation hardware platforms.
The ceremony took off with the opening remarks of Professor Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar (Vice Chancellor, BracU). Moreover, Md. Anwar Hossain (Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology) attended as honorable chief guest and MA Jabbar (President, Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association and managing director, Neural Semiconductor Ltd), delivered the keynote address. The event also highlighted BOOST, the national virtual semiconductor hub of Bangladesh which will be developed and led by the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). The event was also graced with the speech by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain (Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University) who is the founder of Silicon River Initiative. The speakers highlighted the booming ecosystem of semiconductor in Bangladesh and discussed the future pathway. The ceremony ended with a concluding note from Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury (Pro Vice-Chancellor, BracU).
One of the key events of the ceremony was the announcement of the inaugural CREST fellowship supporting both graduates and undergraduates. It also celebrated innovation among students and young minds through recognizing winners of BEAR Summit.
