BRAC University signed a memorandum of understanding with semiconductor designer sBIT Ltd recently to collaborate on research, intellectual property development, and prototype creation, contributing to Bangladesh’s growing tech industry, a press release said.
This union of academic expertise and industry practice, particularly in areas such as semiconductors, VLSI, and emerging technologies, is in alignment with BRAC University’s efforts to strengthen national capacity in semiconductor design, applied research, and future-oriented engineering education.
VLSI or very-large-scale integration is a process of designing and integrating thousands or millions of tiny electronic components into one compact silicon chip to create powerful and efficient electronic circuits.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Arshad Mahmud Chowdhury and Dr Jahangir Dewan, the company’s CEO, penned the deal on the university’s Merul Badda campus on 18 November 2025.
Founded in Silicon Valley in 2007, sBIT Ltd specializes in semiconductor VLSI design, cybersecurity software, and IT services.
The company will be providing students of the BSRM School of Engineering access to the Cadence University Program.
Building upon more than 30 years of electronic systems design and computational software expertise, Cadence facilitates the exchange of engineering knowledge among academic communities and companies in the electronics and semiconductor industry.
BRAC University students will be able to use industry-grade Cadence software to learn how to solve complex technical challenges while designing chips, conducting SoC verification and creating integrated circuit (ICs) packages, printed circuit boards, and complete systems.
SoC (System-on-Chip) verification is the process of ensuring that a complex integrated circuit, containing multiple components such as processors, memory, and peripherals, functions correctly according to its specifications.
The students will also benefit from internships, apprenticeships, industry-aligned thesis work, and access to various skill-development programs such as bootcamps, tech talks, hackathons, and shared technical resources.
A steering committee comprising representatives from both sides will select and approve projects, with early work expected to focus on VLSI design and related services.
Joint project teams will then be formed to carry out the approved initiatives using agreed datasets, development tools, and testing infrastructure.
Faculty members Professor Md Mosaddequr Rahman, Chairperson of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Assistant Professor Twisha Titirsha, Associate Professor Mirza Rasheduzzaman and Professor Touhidur Rahman were present.
Senior Engineer Abdal Haque Mondol represented sBIT Ltd, reaffirming the company’s commitment to supporting research, innovation, and academic collaboration.
This collaboration directly supports BRAC University’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
