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Aiming to steer Bangladesh towards a robust, knowledge-driven and innovation-led trillion-dollar economy by 2034, the Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026 will be held at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novotheatre in Dhaka from September 12 to 14.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam made the announcement while addressing a high-level networking session titled “Developing Innovation Ecosystem Towards a Trillion-Dollar Economy” as the chief guest at the Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka on Monday (August 24).
Emphasising the need to integrate high-value industries and engineering technologies to enhance Bangladesh’s competitiveness in global markets, the minister said universities and startups were generating breakthrough ideas, but institutional barriers to technology transfer, regulatory approvals, intellectual property protection and commercialisation were hindering their progress.
“The government is constructing an end-to-end innovation ecosystem to bridge this gap,” he said.
The minister also said a specialised startup fund of Tk 500 crore had been created to support the commercialisation of innovative ideas.
He urged domestic industrialists to utilise the infrastructure available at high-tech and innovation parks in Sylhet, Rajshahi and Jashore.
Addressing ongoing energy and power disruptions, which he said had been influenced by the Russia-Ukraine war, Anam said technical experts and policymakers were working together to find quick solutions.
Chairing the session, Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Md Anwar Hossain said a “Research to Market” framework was being implemented to turn academic research into industrial solutions.
He said steps were also being taken to adopt frontier technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, nanotechnology and biotechnology.
The secretary said prime ministerial approval had been secured for establishing a dedicated Biotech Park, while strategic consensus had also been reached with vice-chancellors of 43 universities.
The session was attended by key business and industry representatives, including FBCCI Administrator Fazlul Hoque, business leader Tapan Chowdhury and BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan.
Representatives from FICCI, EuroCham, BACCO, Standard Chartered Bangladesh, HSBC, Bank Asia, Mastercard, Grameenphone, Banglalink, Daffodil Group, Berger Paints, Mutual Trust Bank, Pi Strategy, Runner Group, Evince Group, Dipon Group, SSG Bangladesh and BCMEA also attended the session.