UAP becomes a part of the CREST — A National Leap Toward Semiconductor Excellence by the NRBs

Dhaka, Bangladesh — [28th October 2025]

Bangladesh has taken a defining step toward its semiconductor future with the launch of the Center of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology (CREST) — an initiative conceived, led, and driven by Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) committed to building the nation’s technological sovereignty.

Established under BASICS (Bangladesh Academy of Semiconductor Innovation and Curriculum Support) and aligned with the BEAR Summit (Biotech, Electronics, AI, and Robotics) vision, CREST reflects the collective aspiration of NRBs and local partners to position Bangladesh as a Silicon River — a source of innovation and global collaboration in semiconductor technology.

University of Asia Pacific (UAP) is actively engaged in semiconductor related research and works closely with leading semiconductor industries in Bangladesh. A number of teams from the department of EEE & the department of CSE at UAP actively participated in BEAR Summit 2025 & Bangladesh National Semiconductor Symposium and subsequently submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) to become a center of research excellence in semiconductor technology.

CREST’s first year will integrate 9 graduate fellowships from 7 leading institutions — BUET (3), DU, NSU, BRAC, UIU, UAP and EWU — under the mentorship of 9 faculty members which is supported by Neural Semiconductor Ltd. of Bangladesh and two global semiconductor leaders. These teams will collaborate with leading U.S. universities, including UC Berkeley, Purdue, and others.

The initiative also includes 6 national training centers targeting the training of 100 professionals in advanced semiconductor design. A virtual innovation hub will serve as a digital ecosystem for networking, enrichment, and empowerment. This will host data of students and professionals, online courses for enrichment and networking opportunity with global and local semiconductor industries and NRB semiconductor experts.

CREST will focus on Low-Power Device Design, AI-Centric Circuits, Advanced Packaging, ReRAM for Automotive Applications, and Silicon Photonics — empowering Bangladesh to contribute meaningfully to the global semiconductor value chain.

“This is an excellent initiative aimed at fostering the growth and development of the semiconductor research ecosystem. UAP is fully committed to contributing to this effort and will dedicate every possible resource to advancing it further” said Prof. Dr. Qumrul Ahsan, Vice-Chancellor of UAP, reaffirming that global collaboration and homegrown talent will drive the nation’s innovation future.