The research labs at UIU
Centre for Energy Research (CER) was established in September 2010 at United International University (UIU). It aims to develop research on the policy formulation, utilisation and efficient management of renewable and sustainable energy.
Shahriar Ahmed Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, is the director of the research centre. Many laboratories have been developed under CER with grants to carry out tests and researches in the field of renewable energy. "CER is one of the leading renewable energy research and consultancy centres in Bangladesh," said Chowdhury.
So far, the centre has successfully facilitated more than 50 projects on renewable energy and climate change. It has designed several solar diesel hybrids, mini-grids for rural electrification and grid connected solar PV power plants.
CER won the UN Momentum for Change 2016 at the 22nd edition of the Conference of the Parties in Marrakech, Morocco, and Inter Solar Award 2016 in Munich, Germany, in the category of Outstanding Solar Projects. The research centre also received funds for "Demand Response Enabled Smart Grid" from Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (EPRC) of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, last year.
CER is one of the testing and certification institutions of Solar Home System (SHS) equipment in Bangladesh. As of now, it has tested over 300 SHS equipment, including LED lamps, charge controllers and batteries. CER also organises workshops, seminars, training and capacity building activities in the field of solar PV technology in Bangladesh. So far, it has trained more than 1,500 engineers and technicians in solar PV technology. The research centre also successfully completed projects with renowned institutes and universities around the world.
So far, CER has received grants for running their projects from World Bank, and many recognised organisations around the world, including Asian Development Bank, German Technical Cooperation, German Academic Exchange Services, Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK, Engineering and Physical Science Research Council, UK, Department for International Development, UK, and Infrastructure Development Company Ltd.
In December 2014, Dr Khondaker Abdullah Al Mamun, Professor, Department of CSE, UIU, started a research laboratory called, Advanced Intelligent Multidisciplinary Systems Lab (AIMS Lab). It was established to develop the information and technology section of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering research in Bangladesh. "The lab focuses on training the students and young faculty members to develop their skills as researchers," he said.
Furthermore, the institute for Advanced Research (IAR) was established in 2018 to support and fast-track research and development in UIU. "We have a plan to provide funds to faculty members who are interested in research," said Professor Dr M Rezwan Khan, Former Vice-Chancellor and Executive Director, Institute of Advanced Research, UIU. "We believe that this initiative will bring about qualitative changes in the research culture at UIU and in Bangladesh at large."
The CMED Health Research Commercialisation of AIMS Lab, UIU, won The HEAD Foundation Innovative Social Enterprise Award in the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia 2018. The event was jointly organised by National University of Singapore and DBS Foundation in Singapore in 2018.
The first training academy for VLSI and analogue IC design in Bangladesh was established at UIU in 2016. It began with an objective to develop trained professionals. On the other hand, their Centre for Development of IT Professionals (CDIP) conducts different IT industrial training sessions for the students.