IUB launches ‘Innovation-to-Impact Award’ to take student, faculty projects beyond campus

Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) has launched the Innovation-to-Impact (i2i) Award, a new initiative designed to help promising student, faculty and alumni projects move from academic settings into practical use.

Applications for the inaugural cycle opened on August 15, 2026, and will remain open until September 21. The initiative seeks to address a common challenge in higher education, where innovative final-year projects, research outputs and competition-winning prototypes often remain at the academic presentation stage despite their potential to address real-world problems.

“Unlike traditional innovation programs that focus on generating ideas, the Innovation-to-Impact Award begins after the core work has already been completed. The initiative is designed for projects that have reached a stage where they can be validated, refined, and connected with industry, investors, or communities that could benefit from them,” said João Fialho, Strategic Advisor for Innovation at IUB.

Under the eight-month program, selected teams will receive mentorship from industry professionals, practical guidance and opportunities to strengthen their projects while working toward measurable outcomes.

Participants will also earn industry-verified badges recognising demonstrated skills rather than classroom attendance. The badges cover five areas: Project Management, Market Research, Marketing & Communication, Validation and Platinum Recognition for the highest-performing projects.

Each badge will be awarded after participants complete specific milestones and provide evidence that their work has met the required standards. The university said the verified badges will remain valuable even if a startup or project does not ultimately succeed, giving graduates credible evidence of practical skills sought by employers.

The first cycle will begin with applications in August and September 2026, followed by screening and team onboarding in late September and October. The incubation phase is scheduled to begin in mid-to-late October and continue through June 2027.

At the end of the program, the strongest teams will present their projects before a panel of industry judges.

“Beyond supporting entrepreneurship, the initiative also recognizes projects that create social impact. Organizers say solutions that improve public services, strengthen communities, or address institutional challenges will be valued alongside commercially viable ventures,” said Dr. Saadia Binte Alam, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and project coordinator of the i2i Award at IUB.

IUB is inviting applications from students and faculty whose work has already progressed beyond the idea stage. Eligible submissions include final-year projects, capstone projects, tested prototypes, competition-winning innovations and research ready for practical application.