a2i gives fund to seven best innovators

The top seven innovators, who were chosen through several competitions held across the nation as part of the a2i initiative, received seed money on Thursday.

At a ceremony held at the city's BAF Shaheen Hall, local government, rural development, and cooperatives minister Md Tazul Islam and state minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak jointly gave the winners their certificates and seed money.

The top seven innovators were chosen through the a2i's nationwide ‘Water Innovation Challenge Competition-2021,’ ‘Pregnancy Monitoring Innovation Challenge-2022,’ and ‘Letter Builder Innovation Challenge’.

Khaled Ashraf was given Taka 90 lakh as seed money for his innovation 'Digital Maternity' while Taka 60 lakh was given to Mehedi Hasan for his innovation 'Use of Technology for Health Improvement of Mother and Newborn Baby', Taka 33.20 lakh to Hasib Uddin for 'Sentinel Technologies', Taka 18.50 lakh to Ashikur Rahman Tanim for 'Water Wise Think', Taka 20 lakh to Ahmed Nafis Hossain Ayan for 'Advanced Monitoring System', Taka 28.32 lakh to Md Khaled Hasan Morshedul Bari for 'Wash Metric' and Taka 20 lakh to AHM Rezwanul Islam for 'Pani Dhee'.

a2i Project Director (additional secretary) presided over the function while Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Aviation and Aerospace University (BSMRAAU) Vice-Chancellor Air Vice Marshal ASM Fakhrul Islam, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General (DG) Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam, Department of Environment (DOE) DG Dr Abdul Hamid, Dhaka WASA Managing Director Engineer Taqsem A Khan, a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury and a2i Innovation Fund Chief Naim Ashrafi were present at the event, among others.