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.