Tk 18 crore research projects offer prototypes for display

Many technologies that once opened doors of promise at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) have now been shrunken to laboratory samples, exhibitions, and research papers.

These innovations were meant to reach people's everyday lives, but they remain trapped at the initial prototype stage. As a result, the public has not benefited from technologies developed through years of effort and millions of taka in research funding. Ventilators, robots, hybrid cars, and voice-controlled wheelchairs—some lie in researchers' homes, others in laboratories. Over the past 10 years, RUET has received a total of Tk 18,17,13,482 (over 18 crore taka) in research grants. These funds have been allocated to projects in health technology, renewable energy, electric vehicles, robotics, sustainable infrastructure, and other fields. Faculty members and students have developed many timely technologies. However, because these innovations have not been translated into practical applications or commercial production, the returns on the crore-taka investments have yet to be fully realized.

The Ventilator that Never Made It During the COVID-19 pandemic: When Rajshahi faced a shortage of ventilators, a student research team called "Durbar Kandari" developed a low-cost, functional ventilator. It was even tested experimentally at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. Though the innovation drew significant attention at the time, efforts to bring it into regular use stalled after the trial phase. Today, the ventilator lies unused in a researcher's home.

The Robot that stayed behind around the same time: Another RUET research team built a specialized robot named "Captain Dr. Sitara Begum." It was designed to reduce the risk faced by healthcare workers and doctors treating COVID-19 patients. The robot received widespread acclaim after its development, but practical deployment never moved forward. It too now sits in a researcher's home. The Hybrid Car That Never Hit the Road In 2019, RUET students earned praise for building a low-cost, environmentally friendly vehicle. Known as the "Hybrid Car," it was hailed as an example of green and affordable technology. However, neither practical application nor commercial production ever commenced.

The Voice-Controlled Wheelchair: Researchers at RUET also developed a voice-controlled wheelchair to aid people with disabilities. To this day, it remains confined to the laboratory. The Larger Picture These examples reflect a systemic issue: despite substantial government and institutional funding, the bridge between academic research and real-world application remains weak. Innovations that could have eased lives, saved costs, or addressed national crises have been left to gather dust. The lack of industry linkages, policy support, and commercialization pathways has turned promising breakthroughs into mere academic trophies. Research

Funding at RUET: Statistics and Challenges The Research and Extension Division at Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (RUET) began its activities in 2013. Since then, funds have been allocated annually for research. According to RUET data, from the 2017–18 to the 2025–26 fiscal years, a total of Tk 18,17,13,482 has been allocated to various research projects. In the 2023–24 fiscal year, Tk 2,50,02,414 was allocated to 56 projects, and in 2024–25, Tk 3,31,82,539 was allocated to 84 projects. For the 2025–26 fiscal year, the allocation for 75 projects has increased to Tk 3,60,00,000.

Researchers Cite Lack of Industry Linkages:  Professor Dr. Md. Masud Rana, a researcher on the Emergency Medical Ventilator and Spread Wheelchair projects, said that researchers are successfully innovating new technologies and structures. However, these technologies cannot be brought to the production stage. The main reason, he noted, is the lack of effective linkage between the university and industrial establishments. If the university could coordinate with companies, commercial production of these innovations would be possible.

Director Highlights Commercialization Challenges: Professor Dr. Abdul Khaleque, Director of RUET's Research and Extension Division, believes that taking a successful laboratory innovation to the market remains a major challenge. Alongside integrated initiatives from the university, the industrial sector, and the government, he emphasized the need for patents, prototype development, commercial testing, and increased research allocations from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

Vice-Chancellor Calls for Industry Partnership: RUET Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Abdur Razzak said that extensive research has been conducted at the university, and many effective and essential items are being developed. These can be undertaken jointly with various industries. For this, a larger budget is required. While the government is providing funds, he noted that if industries come forward with interest, these research projects can be quickly translated into practical applications.