Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday inaugurated the two-day National Semiconductor Symposium and the Biotechnology, Electronics, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (BEAR) Conference 2026, highlighting the government's commitment to building Bangladesh's high-tech ecosystem.
The Prime Minister opened the conference at 10:00 am at the Novo Theatre in Tejgaon, organised by the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association in partnership with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Silicon River Bangladesh programme.
The event, themed "Building Bangladesh's Semiconductor Future through Global Partnership," has brought together policymakers, global semiconductor industry leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, academics, investors and members of the Bangladeshi diaspora to discuss the country's long-term strategy for developing the semiconductor sector.
According to the organisers, the conference aims to promote Bangladesh's semiconductor industry and strengthen the country's position in emerging technologies.
The event features 11 technical sessions and seven strategic dialogue sessions focusing on semiconductor industry development, global technology leadership, technology convergence, the future of high-tech industries, entrepreneurship, engagement of Bangladeshi technology professionals living abroad and advanced manufacturing.
Participants include representatives from Texas Instruments, Purdue University, GlobalFoundries, NXP, Applied Materials, SanDisk, CREDO and the Vietnam Semiconductor Alliance and Partnership, among others.
The organisers said discussions will focus on developing a skilled semiconductor workforce, building a strong industry ecosystem, strengthening global partnerships, promoting research, advancing manufacturing capabilities, commercialising innovation and supporting deep-tech entrepreneurship.
The second day of the conference will feature the Christie Fellowship Research Symposium, where emerging Bangladeshi semiconductor researchers will present their latest research.
Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam, Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Rehan Asif Asad, Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain and Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association President M A Jabbar, among others, addressed the inaugural session.
Professor Mohammad Mustafa Hossain of Purdue University, chief architect of BEAR and Silicon River Bangladesh, delivered the keynote vision address.
Alongside the conference, the BEAR Innovation Expo 2026 is showcasing innovations developed by students, researchers and start-ups in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, robotics, health technology and other deep-tech sectors.
FP/A
