A magnetic robotics kit designed to help children learn through play, an electric powertrain aimed at sustainable mobility and agriculture, and a satellite-based system that identifies schools exposed to brick-kiln pollution were among the innovations that drew attention to Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) at the Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026.

IUB took eight projects to the three-day fair, held at Novo Theatre in Dhaka from September 12 to 14, 2026. Two of them – PIXO, developed by FabLab IUB, and the Affordable 60V Electric Powertrain, developed at the Green Energy Research Center (GERC) – were selected among the Top 50 innovations at the national event.

The fair, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, brought together more than 1,000 innovations, participants from over 50 universities, more than 100 industry experts and over 50 corporate organisations.

The electric powertrain project received a visit from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during the fair. The team explained to the Prime Minister the technology and its potential applications in sustainable transportation and agriculture.

"Through our electric powertrain work, we are trying to show that Bangladesh does not always have to depend on imported technology; we can design, develop and adapt our own solutions for mobility, agriculture and industry,” said IUB EEE alum Md. Imtiaz Abedin, leader of the electric powertrain project.

“When students are genuinely excited about what they are building, they learn faster, experiment more boldly and contribute with greater commitment. That combination of research, passion and practical engineering is what makes a project successful,” said Prof. Dr. Khosru Mohammad Salim, Director of GERC.

At another part of the exhibition, PIXO offered a very different approach to technology education. Developed as an ecosystem of smart magnetic robotics blocks that connect without wires, it allows children to explore coding, electronics, engineering and robotics through hands-on activities.

"With Pixo, our vision is simple: we aren’t just designing robotics kits – we are building confidence, preparing the thinkers, makers, and innovators who will lead tomorrow’s robotics revolution," said IUB CSE alum Yusa Islam, Co-founder of Pixo.

The other six IUB projects presented at the university’s IUB360 Exhibitor Stall demonstrated the breadth of issues being addressed through technology and research.

KilnWatch uses satellite imagery to map brick kilns around schools across Bangladesh, helping identify educational institutions exposed to clusters of kilns. CryptoCube takes an interactive route to cybersecurity education.

“Through interactive games, story-based missions, puzzles, and a touchscreen interface, students learn concepts like encryption, password security, and secure communication by playing instead of memorizing theory,” said Md Abid Hasan Fuhad, leader of the CryptoCube project and 10th semester student of CSE.

CogniLink is a wearable device that tracks finger movements and converts selected words or phrases into spoken audio, with potential applications for people facing speech or mobility-related challenges.

SwitchLoRa explores wireless voice communication by combining software-defined radio with LoRa technology. GorbhoShongi takes a different approach, using a Bangla and English application to support mental well-being during pregnancy and after childbirth.

RefinAir checks indoor air quality, combining sensors, airflow simulations, satellite information and pollution mapping with automated air purification to monitor and manage indoor environments.

"The CSE department at IUB always takes great pride in taking important and visionary steps in creating a pathway to connect creativity with opportunity and academic innovation with societal impact,” said Dr. A K M Mahbubur Rahman, Associate Professor and Head, Department of Computer Science and Engineering at IUB.

Chairman of the IUB Board of Trustees Didar A. Husain and Vice Chancellor Prof. M. Tamim visited the exhibition stalls and spoke with the participating teams, while senior faculty members joined the young innovators to encourage them.

In order to build on the innovation momentum, this year, IUB has lanched the Innovation to Impact Award, an initiative of IUB’s Center of Innovation and Incubation – IUB 360, with wholehearted support from the Board of Trustees and the senior leadership. The Award aims to identify, support and nurture ready innovative projects and prototypes of IUB students to take them to the next level.

“Innovation is ultimately about creating meaningful change. I am grateful to the IUB Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership for their continued support for our drive to build a culture where ideas can be developed, tested and translated into impact,” said Dr. Joao Fialho, Strategic Advisor for Innovation at IUB.

“What we saw at the Bangladesh Innovation Fair 206 is exactly the kind of work we want to take further. A good project should not end with a competition, exhibition or academic requirement,” said Dr. Saadia Binte Alam, Associate Professor of CSE and Director of the Center of Innovation and Incubation - IUB 360.

“Innovation is something we are actively trying to build into the culture of IUB. We want our students and researchers to look at the problems around them, ask what they can do differently, and turn their ideas into solutions that have real impact. Seeing eight IUB projects at this fair, and two of them recognized among the Top 50, gives us further reason to keep investing in this direction,” said Prof. M. Tamim, Vice Chancellor of IUB.

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