BUET-Proyash sign 3-year MoU

The Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and Proyash Institute of Special Education have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote research and innovation in assistive technologies for children with special needs.

The agreement, titled “Cooperation for Research and Innovation in Assistive Technology for Special Children”, was signed on 6 July 2026 at the ECE Building of BUET.

The partnership aims to encourage collaborative research and technological innovation to improve educational and healthcare services for children with special needs.

The programme began with a welcome address by Professor Dr Sharif Mohammad Mominuzzaman, Head of the EEE Department at BUET.

A documentary highlighting the activities of Proyash Institute was screened, followed by a presentation on the key features of the MoU by Professor Dr Mohammad Ariful Haque of the EEE Department.

Speeches were delivered by BUET Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, Professor Dr Md Kamrul Hasan, Dean of the Faculty of EEE at BUET, and Colonel Md Altaf Ali, PSC, Executive Director and Principal of Proyash Institute of Special Education.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will jointly conduct research on artificial intelligence (AI)-based technologies to enhance services for children with special needs.

The collaboration will focus on automated detection and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), AI-assisted Individual Education Plans (IEPs), digitisation of educational and health data, and the development of innovative assistive technologies.

The partnership also includes joint training programmes, seminars and workshops, while undergraduate and postgraduate students will participate in research activities.

Under the arrangement, Proyash will provide relevant data and field-level support, while BUET will contribute engineering expertise, laboratory facilities and technical resources.

Intellectual property generated from jointly developed technologies will be shared equally by both institutions.

Initial projects under the collaboration include developing a secure digital platform for automated IEP generation and student progress tracking, creating a multi-modal AI-based screening tool for early ASD detection, and designing low-cost sensor-based therapeutic devices and customised prosthetic solutions.

The MoU will remain effective for three years from the date of signing and may be renewed through mutual agreement.

Both institutions expressed hope that the partnership would expand technology-enabled education and healthcare services for children with special needs in Bangladesh and create new opportunities for advanced research in assistive technologies.