UGC moves to take university research to industry with tech transfer offices and startup incubators

The University Grants Commission (UGC) is taking initiatives to put technologies and knowledge developed in university laboratories to use in industry and create opportunities for commercial use. Plans include increasing funding for joint research, setting up Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and building startup incubators.

Emphasising the use of university research to solve real problems and for national economic development, UGC Chairman Professor Dr. Mamun Ahmed said the scope of research cannot remain limited to writing, reviewing and publishing research papers. Research results must be used to solve real-life problems, develop new technologies and increase industrial productivity.

He said research success should be measured not only by the number of publications or citations, but also through new technology development, building working prototypes and protecting intellectual property.

He was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 'Fifth International Conference on Innovations in Science, Engineering and Technology' at the International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) on Sunday (8 November).

Professor Mamun Ahmed said the country's industries still depend largely on foreign sources for various technologies, software and consultancy services, although university teachers and researchers have the capacity to provide local solutions to these problems.

As examples, he cited automated management of the supply system at Chattogram port, the use of artificial intelligence-based automation in ready-made garment factories, and increasing the efficiency of the power transmission system.

Urging industries to invest in university laboratories to solve such problems, he said researchers must also move beyond the laboratory into factories, identify the real needs and problems of industry, and work on effective technological solutions.

He believes that if effective partnerships develop between universities and industries, research results can be directly linked to production and economic activity.

The UGC chairman said initiatives are being taken to increase funding for practical research conducted jointly with industries. There are also plans to connect Bangladeshi scientists with advanced international laboratories and research networks, creating opportunities to use global research and innovation knowledge, experience and technology according to the country's needs.

Outlining the plan to set up technology transfer offices in universities, he said these offices would create an institutional system for protecting the intellectual property of technologies developed in university laboratories, obtaining patents and licensing technologies to industries.

In addition, initiatives are being taken to provide strategic grants for setting up startup incubators in universities. This would make it possible to turn students' innovative ideas into business ventures, create young entrepreneurs and open up new employment opportunities.

Highlighting the importance of research and innovation in achieving the goal of raising the country to a one-trillion-dollar economy and creating ten million high-value jobs in the next five years, Professor Mamun Ahmed said universities must be turned into centres of knowledge, technology and innovation to achieve this target.

Domestic capacity must be increased through research and innovation in promising sectors such as information and communication technology, the pharmaceutical industry, renewable energy, light engineering and biotechnology. He noted the need to follow the guidance of the national innovation policy and strengthen coordination among the research, industry and entrepreneur sectors.

The event was chaired by IIUC Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Ali Azadi. Speakers included the university's Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Hasmat Ali, Treasurer Professor Dr. Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Professor Dr. Sudan Jha of Kathmandu University in Nepal, Dr. Azni Hasilijan binte Abi Halim of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Professor Dr. M. Imamul Hasan Bhuiyan, President of the IEEE Bangladesh Section, Professor Dr. Engineer Md. Raju Ahmed, Professor Dr. Shikder Sunbeam Islam and Professor Dr. Mohammad Shamsul Alam of IIUC. Teachers and officials of the conference organising committee were also present.

Vice-chancellors, teachers, researchers and students from various private universities in the Chattogram region are taking part in the conference.