01/01/2026
We are proud to announce the inauguration of the Center of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology (CREST) at BRAC University! This milestone event was held on 29 December, 2025 under the broader Silicon River Ecosystem (BEAR: Biotech, Electronics, AI and Robotics) which brings together leaders from government, academia, industry, the armed forces, and the global Bangladeshi diaspora.
The ceremony began with a welcome address by Prof. Dr. Syed Ferhat Anwar, Vice Chancellor of BRAC University, who reaffirmed the university's commitment to advancing frontier research and national technological priorities. The presence of Mr. Md. Anwar Hossain, Honorable Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, as Chief Guest showed the Government of Bangladesh's support for research-led technological advancement.
A defining moment of the event was the speech by Dr. Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University and founder of the Silicon River Initiative, who emphasized that Bangladesh's future global relevance will be shaped by impactful ideas, long-term investment in research talent, and trusted global collaboration. His remarks reinforced the importance of CREST as a national platform for sustained excellence in semiconductor research.
The inauguration also celebrated the announcement of the Inaugural CREST Fellowship, supporting graduate and undergraduate students from multiple universities to work on advanced semiconductor research throughout the year. In addition, innovators were recognized through the BEAR Summit Awards, reinforcing the importance of nurturing young talents.
The inauguration event concluded with a panel discussion titled "Patent Law and IP Protection: Safeguarding Innovation in a Knowledge Economy," which emphasized the importance of intellectual property protection in building a sustainable semiconductor industry in Bangladesh.
From the Vlsi Bracu community, we express our sincere gratitude to our advisor Dr. Touhidur Rahman, whose leadership and vision have continuously guided this community and helped align it with national initiatives such as CREST. We thank the entire VLSI@BRACU community for their dedication and contributions. We would also like to acknowledge the volunteer support provided by the BRAC University Electrical and Electronic Club, whose efforts contributed to the successful ex*****on of the event.
