DHAKA, Feb 6, 2024 (BSS) - The government is going to set up state-of-the-art Research and Innovation Centers (RICs) in 10 universities in the country to empower the brightest minds to solve critical national problems through research and innovations with a distinct focus on market-oriented products.

The university-based RICs will serve as a dynamic hub fostering collaborative research and innovation that would connect academia, industry and government to effectively address national challenges through groundbreaking initiatives, said an EDGE press release here.

An agreement was signed in this regard today at the Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project office at Mirpur Youth Tower between the World Bank financed EDGE Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT Division and 10 universities.

EDGE Project Director Shakhawat Hossain, along with Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University (BSMRAAU) Air Vice Marshal AKM Manirul Bahar, Vice-Chancellor of Khulna University Mahmood Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University Professor Dr AQM Mahbub and Vice-Chancellor of Rangamati Science and Technology University Professor Dr Shelina Akhter and representatives from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), Jahangirnagar University (JU), Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU), Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology, ?and Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University separately signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations and universities.

ICT Division Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin and BCC Executive Director Ranajit Kumar were present, among others, at the function.

Co-Team Leader of EDGE Project (component-3) Faruq Ahmed Jewel presented a keynote paper citing objectives and goals for establishing the RICs in the universities.

Speaking on the occasion, Md Shamsul Arefin said many universities are grappling with a funding crisis, hindering their ability to actively engage in cutting-edge research and innovation endeavors.

"We are encouraging for establishment of a Corporate Research Responsibility Fund (CRRF) to mitigate the fund crisis for conducting research and innovation," he said, adding the industry, academia and government could play a pivotal role to create the CRRF.

The ICT Division secretary said the establishment of RICs in the 10 universities is an effort to encourage collaborative research and innovation that connects academia, industry and government to effectively address national challenges through groundbreaking initiatives.

"We want to build state-of-the-art research and innovation ecosystem in the universities to empower brightest minds to solve critical national problems," Arefin said.