DHAKA, Nov 24, 2021 (BSS) - A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed
between the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the iDEA project of
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division on working jointly
to create innovation hubs in universities across the country.
In the presence of UGC Chairman Professor Dr Kazi Shahidullah and Senior
Secretary of ICT Division NM Zeaul Alam, Project Director (Joint Secretary)
of the iDEA Project Md Abdur Rakib and UGC Secretary (Additional In-charge)
Dr Ferdous Zaman stroke the deal at the conference room of the iDEA Project
at ICT Tower in the city's Agargaon area, said a press release.
Executive Director (Additional Secretary) of BCC Dr Md Abdul Mannan, UGC
Member Professor Dr Md Sazzad Hossain, Public Relations and Right to
Information Division Director Dr AKM Shamsul Arefin, iDEA Project's Senior
Consultant RHM Alaol Kabir, Legal Consultant Adneen Zereen and Communication
Consultant Shohag Chandra Das were present at the MoU signing ceremony, among
others.
According to the MoU, UGC and the iDEA Project will work on creating
innovation hubs in universities across the country for development of
entrepreneurs and startups.
Industry, academia and iDEA project will work together for the benefit of
entrepreneurs where emerging and promising startups or entrepreneurs will
collaborate in different capacities, including providing training, grooming
and funding.
In addition, concerned academics, researchers, experienced and skilled
individuals in the field of industry and business will be engaged as resource
persons in this activity while entrepreneurs would be able to acquire new
technology and business knowledge that will enable them to successfully
advance their innovations or startups.
Besides, the UGC's "Mujib 100 ideas" contest will be held every year from
where mentoring and grooming will be provided to the top 100 initiatives
through the Innovation Hub that would help the startups to reach their seed
and growth levels by increasing their knowledge and skills.
Simultaneously, the top 10 startups of the "Mujib 100 Idea" contest will
be given a grant of Taka 10 lakh based on the evaluation by the selection
committee of the iDEA project, which would play a vital role in building an
effective startup ecosystem and creating a better business environment in the
country.