Microsoft launches Innovation Centre in Brisbane28 May 2012The Seattle-based software giant, Microsoft, has just launched an Innovation Centre in Brisbane. A state-of-the-art facility, it will be used for collaboration on innovative research, technology and software solutions and will involve a combination of government, academic and industry participants. More than $4 million is to be invested over a three year period. Programs at the facility, one of a network of over a hundred Microsoft Innovation Centres around the world, will focus on skills, business development and connection to industry. Sharon Schoenborn, Microsoft Australia’s State Director for Queensland, said that the company is aiming to help over a hundred organisations during the next three years. “The centre will act as a hub of innovation for start-ups, partners, developers and students to exchange ideas, build on each other’s strengths, and translate those assets into greater business success,” Ms Schoenborn said. “We are bringing together a lot of the assets that help start-ups and entrepreneurs to enable them technically, as well as from a business development perspective, to really accelerate that development,” she said. Ms Schoenborn said that the Microsoft Innovation Centre would look at extending its reach into regional Queensland in order to assist start-ups, as well as to leverage the National Broadband Network. More information |