BAEC & BCSIR signed MoU with CREST & Neural Semiconductor
C.B.Desk: Two separate Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed today at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Science & Technology- one among Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC), the Center of Research Excellence in Semiconductor Technology (CREST) and Neural Semiconductor Ltd (NSL).; and another among Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), CREST and NSL.
The signing ceremony was chaired by Md. Anwar Hossain, Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology. Dr. M. Moinul Islam, Chairman, BAEC; Dr. Samina Ahmed, Chairman, BCSIR; M. A. Jabbar, President, BSIA and Managing Director, Neural Semiconductor Ltd.; and Prof. Mustafa Hussain, Convener, CREST signed the MoUs on behalf of their respective organizations.
The MoU establishes a structured framework to enable CREST-approved semiconductor research projects to conduct physical experiments, fabrication/processing, characterization and metrology using designated BAEC facilities- positioning BAEC’s labs as shared national research infrastructure within the CREST ecosystem.
It also outlines collaboration areas including facility access for CREST-affiliated researchers, joint research projects, human resource development through student research under joint supervision, and exploration of cleanroom revitalization/modernization pathways, while keeping facility operations and regulatory oversight with BAEC.
Similarly, the BCSIR MoU enables CREST-approved projects to utilize BCSIR facilities for experiments, characterization and related semiconductor R&D, making BCSIR facilities available as shared infrastructure under CREST-coordinated programs.
The MoU prioritizes collaborative research execution, access for researchers/students subject to safety and operational protocols, and structured human resource development through joint supervision and technical advisory support from BCSIR scientists- supported by Neural Semiconductor Ltd. as CREST’s sole sponsor, without interfering in facility operations or safety/access decisions.
In his remarks, the MoST Secretary, Md. Anwar Hossain, expressed his hope that these MoUs would open new avenues for collaboration among government, industry, and academia in semiconductor industry development and research.
The BAEC Chairman noted that BAEC’s VLSI and related facilities- established earlier- can now be leveraged more effectively by both industry and academia through this collaboration.
The BCSIR Chairman Dr. Samina Ahmed welcomed the partnership as part of BCSIR’s ongoing efforts to expand collaboration beyond traditional boundaries and work more closely with industry and academia.
M. A. Jabbar, President of Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) and Managing Director of Neural Semiconductor Ltd., said, These MoUs are an important step toward making national R&D infrastructure more accessible and impactful for semiconductor innovation. By connecting BAEC and BCSIR facilities with CREST-coordinated programs, we are enabling industry and academia to work together more effectively.
Among others, M. E. Chowdhury Shameem, Senior Vice President, BSIA; Munir Ahmed, Director, BSIA; Bidyut Chandra Aich, Joint Secretary, MoST; and other senior officials from BAEC, BCSIR and MoST were present at the signing ceremony.
