Govt to launch Bangabandhu Innovation Grant for startups
The government is set to launch a grant programme for both local and international startups to mark the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, according to ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak.
"We will give importance to homegrown solutions for local problems, while youths from abroad can also avail themselves of funds," said Palak while addressing a press conference at his office yesterday.
The startups can win endowments worth anywhere from Tk 50 lakh to Tk 1 crore under the programme styled Bangabandhu Innovation Grant, he added.
The ICT division has already prepared a draft guideline, which will be finalised by March 30. After that, applications will be accepted in April and the winners will be announced in January next year.
Participants from neighbouring countries are expected as the ICT division has already signed agreements with companies such as Mahindra of India.
"We want to build a culture of innovation through which startups from the Silicon Valley and other developed markets will come to Bangladesh and local companies will be able to explore global markets," said Palak.
By establishing this grant as an international one, the ICT division hopes to promote local development of services such as robotics, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, cyber security and so forth.
A startup culture has already started to blossom in the country and so, the government wants to boost the sector as it will in turn give a fillip to the economy, the minister said.
With more than 100 other strategic plans in the works, every employee at the ICT division will work 100 extra hours over the next year to commemorate the event, he added.
"This is just our commitment to the society which we are dedicating to the father of the nation," he added.
Besides, the ICT division aims to introduce 100 new citizen services and promote Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman through ICT services.
Through the division's efforts for the past 10 years, about 11 lakh jobs have been created but the government now has a target to offer another 10 lakh jobs in the ICT sector in the next five years, said Palak.
"We want to eradicate corruption and discrimination from the society using ICT," he added
As part of the celebrations, the ICT division will also organise a special hackathon for women in July. An e-sports event will also be held in June to encourage the country's online gaming population.
Senior officials of the ICT division were also present at the press conference.
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