Microsoft cuts ribbon on EU research center
The Aachen, Germany-based facility will serve as the software giant's prime center for European collaborative research and opens the door to EC-funded projects.
The European Microsoft Innovation Centre will conduct research into Web services, security and privacy technologies, and wireless technologies, according to the company. It will focus on three areas: enterprise computing, embedded devices and the extended home. Projects will be developed jointly with European academia and industry partners.
The EMIC, which was set up earlier this year, is already a partner in several projects cofunded by the European Commission. For these, the center is developing Web services for e-health and e-learning; security and privacy technologies; and networking technologies. These projects are a part of the Sixth Framework for Research and Technological Development, a 17.5 billion-euro set of programs with deadlines stretching up to 2006.
Microsoft said it currently invests 20 percent of its revenue in research and development--a figure expected to hit $6.8 billion this year--and already has linkages with many universities in Europe.
EMIC currently has 12 staff members, which will be increased to 20 in coming months, according to Microsoft.