BRAC University and Cambridge explore impact-driven partnership for sustainable innovation

BRAC University and the University of Cambridge have initiated discussions to advance impact-focused collaborations in health, education, wellbeing, social inclusion, industrial development, and responsible technology use.

The high-level meeting, held on October 20 at the University of Cambridge, aimed to align BRAC University's community reach and innovation capacity with Cambridge's global research excellence, creating a structured pathway from discovery to real-world deployment. The partnership envisions co-designed research that can be tested, adapted, and scaled to deliver lasting impact across sectors.

Bangladesh's role as a global hub for scalable social innovation was a central theme of the discussions. Both institutions agreed to establish a co-creation lab to design and pilot studies in real-world contexts, focusing on practical solutions to pressing social and technological challenges.

Near-term priorities include formalising joint governance, confirming the first set of pilot projects, and developing success metrics around learning outcomes, public health, safety, and inclusion.

From BRAC University, participants included Vice-Chancellor Professor Ferhat Anwar, Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director of the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD); Registrar Dr. David Dowland; and Gemma May, Government Relations & Policy Lead, BRAC Europe.

Representing the University of Cambridge were Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Prentice, Professor John Danesh, Head of the Department of Public Health and Primary Care; and Dr. Nazia Habib, Director of the Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development.

Joining the discussion remotely from the House of Commons, The Rt. Hon. Sir Andrew Mitchell MP, former UK government minister, praised the initiative as a continuation of the BRAC movement's legacy, noting its potential to contribute to global learning and resilience.

The BRAC University–University of Cambridge partnership directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

By merging academic excellence with community-driven innovation, the two institutions aim to translate research into scalable, sustainable solutions, reaffirming Bangladesh's position as a global leader in inclusive and impact-oriented development.