Prime Minister will inaugurate 10 Smart Unibators on Wednesday
University Innovation Hubs are being launched in ten universities of the country to develop startup culture and help young people become entrepreneurs. This initiative titled 'Smart Unibator' has been taken under the 'Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development' project (DEIED) under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate three innovation hubs at Chattogram University, Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology and United International University, which have been virtually connected from Bangabandhu International Convention Center on Wednesday, and will lay the foundation stones of seven more universities.
In a press release on Monday, the public relations officer of the Hi-Tech Park Authority Md. Golam Kibria informed so.
He also informed that at the same event Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers will be inaugurated in seven districts (Natore, Cumilla, Netrakona, Sylhet, Magura, Chattogram and Rangpur) under the project of establishing Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (in 8 districts). Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center at Barisal under the same project on Digital Bangladesh Day on December 12, 2022. Also, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stones of the 'Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (in 14 districts)' project in Dhaka (Nawabganj) and Tangail and in Kushtia under the 'Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center (in 11 districts)' project.
The seven universities where construction of the University Innovation Hub is starting are: Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman University of Science and Technology, Gopalganj; Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh; Barendra University, Rajshahi; BRAC University; Khulna University and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Sylhet. On the occasion of the inauguration of these facilities, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is making strong preparations under the ICT Division.
Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority GSM Zafarullah said that a total of 11 parks including IT Business Incubator established by Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority are already running. Apart from this, all our launched parks have completely free start-up floors. Innovation hubs are being set up in 10 universities through the DEIED project and startup scale-up programs have been initiated to train aspiring entrepreneurs. The innovation hub will play a major role in connecting industry and academia in the practical application of knowledge acquired in the university. We are hopeful that big products like Facebook and Google will come out of the facilities that have been created for our students through the Innovation Hub.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is creating digital entrepreneurs to increase the pace of private investment by building an innovation ecosystem in the country. As a result, the young generation is more interested in job creation rather than job seeking. Whereas 13 years ago the less educated youth of the country was dependent on other labor intensive industries including garments for employment. Currently they are building their career in IT industry. Besides, increasing the entry rate of startups and small and medium enterprises in the industry and creating gender inclusive digital entrepreneurship is one of the goals of the government. For this reason, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is working with the aim of promoting innovation culture, development of entrepreneurial mindset and collaborative environment in university innovation hubs.
