Dhaka: Adviser of the Ministries of Finance, Science, and Technology, Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, emphasized the importance of aligning research and development initiatives with national development priorities during a roundtable discussion. "We are moving towards an era where scientific advances and technological applications will be the primary drivers of economic competition," he stated. The event, titled "Research to Market: Strengthening Bangladesh's Innovation Ecosystem through Academia-Industry-Research Partnerships," was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology at a city hotel, according to a press release.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the discussion was attended by representatives from private and government research institutions, universities, the private industrial sector, researchers, innovators, and policymakers. Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed, in his keynote speech, highlighted the necessity of building bridges between research, innovation, and industry. He called for government investments in research that contribute to productivity, employment, and sustainable development through timely initiatives by the ministries to enhance connectivity among research, innovation, and industry, along with necessary policy and financial incentives.
The adviser pointed out that Bangladesh has made strides in utilizing scientific technologies in agriculture, livestock, and fisheries at the governmental level, but these sectors still require further development. He emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among policymakers, the government, researchers, and research institutions for comprehensive economic development, especially in underdeveloped fields. Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed also urged scientists to focus more on new innovations and research activities.
Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman participated in the discussion, noting that Bangladesh lags behind in the market commercialization of research results. He stressed the importance of creating opportunities to encourage and prioritize new innovations. Speakers at the event highlighted that academia-industry-research collaboration is the most effective means for innovation, technology transfer, and commercialization of research, which can accelerate economic transformation, export growth, and sustainable development.
Drawing on the experiences of countries like South Korea, Germany, Singapore, and India, speakers suggested that the development of high-tech sectors in Bangladesh is achievable through close collaboration among government, industries, and universities. They advocated for developing suitable models for the local context in Bangladesh and pointed out that the country's expenditure on national research and development is comparatively low in the region. Despite increased research publications, their application in industry remains limited, and private sector investment in research is still insufficient.
The speakers proposed joint research, policy incentives, and technological support to address these gaps and emphasized the establishment of a National Innovation Council with a focus on ICT and AI technologies. In his concluding remarks, the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Anwar Hossain, outlined the Ministry's expanded role in overseeing science-related policies and acting as a catalyst for business competitiveness, export diversification, and growth driven by innovation. He highlighted several recent initiatives, including opening government laboratories to private researchers, promoting joint research and fellowships with the private sector, organizing an "Innovation Fair" in February 2026 to encourage local innovators, building global networks with overseas scientists, and establishing the Frontier Technology Cell for emerging technologies.
Additionally, a comprehensive database of scientists and researchers has been integrated into services.most.gov.bd, focusing initially on areas under the ministry, with plans to document detailed profiles of Bangladeshi scientists and researchers soon. Furthermore, a summary of the event will be prepared, and recommendations for policy reforms and institutional support will be developed. A Ministry of Science and Technology-Industry-Academia Working Group is also being formed to pilot projects in promising sectors.
The roundtable was attended by leaders from various industries and top organizations, representatives from biotechnology, fisheries, and pharmaceutical sectors, vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors of universities, faculty members, government officials, and members of electronic and print media.