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Abstract
This article explores the potential of reverse engineering as a strategic tool for harnessing sustainable technological development in Bangladesh. It argues that for a least developed country with a limited R&D base, reverse engineering offers a pragmatic and cost-effective pathway to technology absorption, adaptation, and eventual innovation. The study defines the concept of reverse engineering and distinguishes it from simple imitation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying principles of a technology. The research examines successful examples of reverse engineering-led industrialization in other developing countries, particularly in East Asia. The paper then assesses the potential for applying this strategy in key sectors of the Bangladeshi economy, such as pharmaceuticals, light engineering, and electronics. The analysis concludes by outlining the policy framework needed to support a national strategy of reverse engineering, including investments in technical education, the creation of specialized research institutions, and a supportive intellectual property regime.
Full Text
For developing countries seeking to catch up technologically, the path of creating new technologies from scratch is often prohibitively expensive and slow. This paper argues that reverse engineering offers a more viable and promising alternative for a country like Bangladesh. The analysis begins by providing a clear definition of reverse engineering: the process of deconstructing a product or system to understand its design, architecture, and functionality. It emphasizes that this is not merely copying but is a sophisticated form of learning-by-doing that builds indigenous technical capacity. The core of the article is a series of case studies from other countries, such as South Korea and Taiwan, which successfully used reverse engineering as a cornerstone of their industrialization strategies in their early stages of development. The paper then turns to the specific context of Bangladesh. It identifies the pharmaceutical industry as a key sector where local companies have already demonstrated a strong capacity for reverse engineering, enabling them to produce affordable generic drugs. The study explores how this successful model could be replicated in other sectors, such as agricultural machinery and electronics, to reduce import dependency and create a more diversified and technologically capable industrial base. The findings lead to a set of concrete policy recommendations, calling for the government to actively promote and support reverse engineering through targeted R&D funding, the establishment of technology diffusion centers, and a reform of the education system to produce more skilled engineers and technicians.