Bangladesh to host first national semiconductor summit as deep-tech ambitions gather pace
PM Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate two-day summit on 25 July
Bangladesh will host its first-ever "National Semiconductor Symposium and Biomedical, Electronics, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2026" on 25-26 July as the country steps up efforts to position itself as a globally connected hub for semiconductor manufacturing and deep-tech innovation.
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to inaugurate the event at Novo Theatre in Dhaka. The Ministry of Science and Technology, the Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association, and Silicon River are jointly organising the tech-driven programme.
According to organisers, the event will focus on building Bangladesh's semiconductor ecosystem and exploring opportunities in AI, biotechnology, robotics, research commercialisation, human capital development, international investment, and global technology partnerships.
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The two-day programme will feature 11 plenary sessions and seven strategic panel discussions covering semiconductor industry development, global technology leadership, technology convergence, the future of deep tech, entrepreneurship, engagement with the Bangladeshi technology diaspora and advanced manufacturing.
At a press briefing at Gulshan Club today (23 July), Science and Technology Secretary Anwar Hossain said technology-driven economies are now at the centre of global economic development, and Bangladesh is working to transform itself into a high-tech, innovation-driven and knowledge-based economy.
He said the ministry is implementing a new vision "Science to Economy: Building a Market-Linked, Innovation-Driven Bangladesh" with a focus on connecting scientific research and innovation with commercial opportunities.
Anwar said the government is pursuing four strategic pillars to build the country's semiconductor and deep-tech ecosystem: strengthening STEM education and human resource development, accelerating research-to-market commercialisation, promoting innovation-to-market initiatives, and advancing frontier technologies.
The government is also planning to establish a "National AI Institute" to support research and policymaking related to artificial intelligence, the secretary said.
The event will feature international speakers and representatives from leading technology companies and institutions, including Texas Instruments, Purdue University, GlobalFoundries, NXP, Applied Materials, SanDisk, CREDO and the Vietnam Semiconductor Alliance and Partnership.
Among the key speakers are expected to be Texas Instruments Chief Technology Officer Dr Ahmad Bahai and Purdue University Senior Vice President Professor Dimitrios Peroulis.
Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain of Purdue University and chief architect of the Silicon River Initiative, and the semiconductor industry association's president MA Jabbar, are scheduled to deliver keynote presentations.
The summit will also host the Biomedical, Electronics, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Innovation Expo 2026, showcasing innovations developed by students, researchers and startups in semiconductors, AI, robotics, health technology and intelligent systems. The expo will feature 35 exhibition stalls.
Emerging Bangladeshi researchers will present their work at a research symposium titled "Bangladesh's Deep-Tech Future."
The semiconductor industry association has been engaging international semiconductor companies, technology professionals and the Bangladeshi diaspora through roadshows and partnerships to strengthen the country's capabilities in semiconductor design, advanced packaging and testing, workforce development and AI infrastructure.
