(BSS) – The Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026 has concluded with 10 promising science-, technology- and engineering-based innovations being selected for financial support to help move them from prototypes and research stages towards commercialisation.
The top 10 innovations, selected by a panel of judges from 50 shortlisted innovations, received Tk 100,000 each along with certificates at the closing ceremony of the three-day fair today.
The financial incentive is aimed at supporting further development of the selected innovations, including their progression towards market-ready products and services.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir handed over the cheques and certificates to the winners at the closing ceremony held at Novo Theatre in Bijoy Sarani here. Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain chaired the programme.
The 10 selected innovations cover healthcare, disability assistance, disaster response, cybersecurity, textiles, electronics, satellite communication, environmental management and industrial safety, reflecting the scope for converting research-driven solutions into commercially viable products and services.
The selected innovations are:
Homepital Nexus: A remote biometric and telemedicine device network designed to bring elements of hospital management and healthcare monitoring into homes.
SMART Wheelchair: An IoT-based mobility system designed to assist people with physical disabilities and neurological conditions through brain signals and eye gestures.
Firefly: An infrared robot equipped with heat and gas sensors for automated navigation and information gathering during firefighting and rescue operations.
Voice Assist Device: An offline-capable AI-powered language translation device designed to make everyday activities easier for people with visual and speech disabilities.
BD Cyber Help: An integrated automated portal designed to detect and respond to cyberattacks and online harassment, particularly at the grassroots level.
Water Repellent Jute Fabric: A sustainable jute textile featuring a water-resistant nano-coating, combining environmentally friendly materials with advanced textile technology.
Natural Fibre PCB: An environmentally friendly printed circuit board made from jute and plant-based biocomposites, aimed at reducing electronic waste and plastic pollution.
Antenna for NanoSat: A high-frequency signal receiver designed to enable faster and more reliable data exchange with small nanosatellites.
Liquid Tree: A microalgae-based photobioreactor technology designed to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate oxygen production in space-constrained urban environments.
Self Contactor: A high-capacity smart switch designed to protect industrial electrical circuits and automatically disconnect power during short circuits.
The commercialisation focus of the fair comes as the government seeks to create a pathway for young innovators to take technological and social innovations beyond exhibition platforms and towards practical application and entrepreneurship.
In his closing remarks, Science and Technology Secretary Md Anwar Hossain pledged all-out support for implementing the innovative ideas and nurturing the talents of young people.
He reiterated the commitment to organise the Innovation Fair regularly every year to provide a platform for developing new innovations and nurturing the talent of young people in the country.
The secretary said pathways are being facilitated through government and private-sector support to help young students take their technological and social innovation ideas to the final stage through research and become successful entrepreneurs.
He said innovations presented by students at the fair are not limited to exhibition purposes, as some of them have already gained opportunities for commercial adoption in the market and created new possibilities for exports, including to Oman.
Md Anwar Hossain said 20 academic, media and policy sessions were held during the three-day fair, creating opportunities for discussion on innovation, research and related policy issues.
He said 50 leading registered innovation teams were selected to participate in the fair after evaluation and screening by an expert panel from 671 applications.
Besides the 10 top innovations, five universities were given special recognition for active and successful presentations at the fair.
They are Gazipur Agricultural University, Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST), Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT), Khulna University and American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB).
The fair featured more than 100 stalls from 73 universities, providing a broad platform for students, researchers and innovators to showcase their work.
The three-day event featured around 20 academic, media and policy sessions, seminars and exhibitions, with the commercialisation of research and innovation emerging as a key focus.
The initiative thus placed emphasis not only on identifying promising innovations, but also on creating opportunities for their further development, market adoption and entrepreneurship through financial and institutional support.
