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. 

Supported by Neural Semiconductor Ltd. of Bangladesh and two global semiconductor leaders, CREST’s first year will integrate 9 graduate fellowships from 7 leading institutions — Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) (3), University of Dhaka (DU), North South University (NSU), BRAC University, United International University (UIU), University of Asia Pacific (UAP), and East West University (EWU) — under the mentorship of 9 faculty members. These teams will collaborate with leading U.S. universities, including University of California, Berkeley; Purdue University, and others. 

The initiative also includes 6 national training centers — at American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), BUET, DU, Islamic University of Technology (IUT), Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) and UIU — targeting the training of 120 professionals in advanced semiconductor design. A virtual innovation hub, being jointly developed by MIST and The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA), 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 opportunities 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. 

As part of this nationwide initiative, the American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB) will host one of the national training centers under CREST. AIUB has an active track record in semiconductor research and a longstanding tradition of collaboration with leading semiconductor industries in Bangladesh. A good number of AIUB’s students and faculty members participated in the 2025 BEAR Summit and the Bangladesh National Semiconductor Symposium, with two faculty members serving as panelists in the Semiconductor Symposium. The university already provides students with access to state-of-the-art EDA (Electronic Design Automation) tools and boasts a strong alumni presence in semiconductor companies both at home and abroad.