Dhaka : North South University (NSU) Startups Next (NSUSN) and the Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project under the ICT Division have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a series of joint initiatives aimed at empowering early-stage startups and fostering a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem on 29 July 2025, according to a press release.
The MoU was signed at North South University by Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of NSU, and Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman, Project Director (Joint Secretary), along with Siddhartho Goswami, operations Team Lead of the iDEA Project, in the presence of senior officials from both institutions. The agreement sets forth a comprehensive framework to collaboratively implement programs, training, grants, research, and startup support services over the next year.
As per the agreement, the iDEA Project and NSU Startups Next (NSUSN) will collaborate on a range of strategic initiatives to strengthen Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem. These include co-hosting startup bootcamps, training workshops, and seminars designed to inspire and equip early-stage entrepreneurs. NSUSN-incubated startups will gain streamlined access to iDEA’s pre-seed grant program, co-working space, legal and PR support, and advanced prototyping facilities at the Fab Lab. Additionally, both institutions will organize national-level engagements such as the iDEA Academic Program 101, founder mentorship sessions, and industry networking events.
“This partnership is a meaningful leap toward developing a future-ready entrepreneurial generation. Together with iDEA, we are committed to creating more pathways for Bangladeshi founders to access resources, mentorship, and funding,” said Prof. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, Vice Chancellor of NSU. “iDEA is proud to collaborate with academic incubators like NSU Startups Next to build capacity among the youth.
We believe that institutional partnerships are critical in creating inclusive innovation ecosystems,” added Murtuza Zulkar Nain Noman, Project Director of iDEA. This strategic partnership is aligned with national priorities and reflects a growing trend of academia- industry-government collaboration. Both parties reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing the national startup landscape and enabling student and alumni entrepreneurs to lead the next wave of tech-driven impact ventures in Bangladesh.
