Bangladesh must become technology producer, exporter: minister
Dhaka, Oct 3: Bangladesh must move beyond being a consumer of foreign technology and emerge as a producer and exporter by leveraging homegrown innovation, research and technological capabilities, Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said on Saturday.
He said the government is working to establish the “Made in Bangladesh” brand globally in areas including artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductor design, software, data centres and digital services.
The minister made the remarks while speaking as chief guest at the Bangladesh ICT and Innovation Awards 2026, organised by the Bangladesh ICT and Innovation Network (BIIN) at the BRAC University Auditorium in Dhaka.
He said Bangladesh is moving towards transforming its labour-intensive economy into a knowledge-based economy and aims to strengthen its position among the world's leading digital economies within the next five years.
“To achieve this goal, there is no alternative to fostering innovative thinking, technological skills and research among the youth,” he said.
This year's awards received 355 innovative projects from different sectors. Following two days of evaluation, a panel of 40 judges from industry, academia, banking, public administration and the startup sector selected 44 innovations for recognition.
Of the recognised projects, nine received Champion awards, 10 Winner awards and 25 Merit awards. The winners received crests, certificates and gift vouchers under the theme “Recognizing Innovation, Inspiring Transformation.”
Praising the young innovators, Anam said the projects demonstrated that Bangladesh's youth have considerable talent and innovative potential.
“Standing in this auditorium today, I do not see merely a group of young faces; I see a reflection of the prosperous and modern Bangladesh of tomorrow,” he said. “Instead of complaining when faced with problems, they have used their talent to develop practical solutions.”
The minister said Bangladesh's large young and working-age population, combined with expanding mobile and internet networks, provides an important foundation for building a technology-driven economy.
However, he stressed that the country now needs to build on this infrastructure through stronger homegrown innovation, research, skills development and an effective technology ecosystem.
Referring to Bangladesh's emphasis at the recently held World AI Conference in Shanghai on capacity building through mutual cooperation, knowledge sharing, affordable connectivity and digital public goods, Anam said the work of young innovators reflects that broader effort to build an inclusive digital future.
He said the recognised innovations use digital technologies and AI to address real-world problems and make people's lives easier.
“These are not blind imitations of foreign technologies; rather, they are authentic Bangladeshi solutions to our own problems,” he said.
The minister also urged young innovators to view the awards as the beginning of a new phase rather than the end of their journey.
Turning a prototype into a commercial product and eventually building an industry around it requires research, capital and appropriate policy support, he said, assuring that the government would support young innovators in these areas.
He also encouraged Bangladeshi innovators to showcase their capabilities at international competitions and platforms, including the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA).
Calling on private-sector entrepreneurs and investors, Anam said they should become not only the first customers of young innovators but also provide opportunities for pilot projects and investment.
He also stressed the need for universities to establish stronger links between their research laboratories and the requirements of industry.
“We are with you; the government is with you,” he told the young innovators.
