BEIJING, China – May 6th, 2008 – Microsoft China today broke ground on a revolutionary new environmentally-efficient campus that symbolizes the next phase of growth for the Microsoft China Research and Development Group (CRD). The new campus, called the Microsoft China R&D Campus, represents an investment of US$280 million. When complete, the campus will serve as home to some of the world’s most advanced research, innovative technologies, and thousands of talented researchers and engineers who are building future products and services in one of the fastest growing IT markets in the world.

"I am very excited to be here today with our partners from industry, government, and academia, in the heart of China's Silicon Valley, to break ground on our new home," commented Ya-Qin Zhang, corporate vice president of Microsoft, chairman of Microsoft China, and chairman of Microsoft China R&D Group. "Through investments such as this, we are building on our capabilities as one of Microsoft’s key global R&D centers and positioning the company to support the development of the local IT ecosystem."

Located in Beijing's Zhong Guang Cun area, the Microsoft China R&D Campus will feature two buildings measuring 80 and 65 meters in height respectively; providing more than 101,000 square meters of space. When finished in 2010, it will house current and future CRD staff as well as offer shared facilities for Microsoft's partners and customers.

Reducing the Impact of Business Operations

Applying the world's latest technologies to create one of the most environmentally efficient buildings in China, the new campus is the personification of Microsoft’s spirit to innovate.

"Embracing new technologies and innovations has been an integral part of Microsoft's success for more than 30 years," said Zhang. "This new campus is central to our belief that we can use technology to address complex issues of the environment."

The new campus will feature new technologies, many of them being used for the first time by Microsoft, that reduce energy consumption, including:

• 'Double skin facades' on the south exterior walls that maximize daylight and keep heat out while allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the building.

• Innovative "vertical parks" called Skygardens that bring nature into the buildings to promote a healthy environment. The Skygardens alternate throughout the buildings, linking every 3 floors, allowing for more daylight and better air circulation.

• Solar water heating systems that reduce energy demand and ultimately cut down on CO₂ emissions.

• Technologies that collect and reuse rain and grey water to conserve precious potable water.

The campus also exceeds Chinese building guidelines in several areas including:

• Water side economizers that limit energy used for mechanical refrigeration.

• Low flow plumbing fixtures that reduce wateruse.

• CO₂ sensors to help adjust air intake.

• Photocells that turn off lighting next to windows when there is sufficient daylight.

• Occupancy sensors in enclosed offices and conference facilities that turn lights off when rooms are not in use.

"As a company we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our business operations," said Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Strategist. "For all new construction for Microsoft around the globe, we require the use of sustainable materials and energy saving practices. With the Microsoft China R&D Campus, our strategy was to utilize water, energy and air quality systems, and increase their effectiveness through active technologies such as sensors and solar systems. Using this approach, we are lessening our corporate environmental footprint and creating a more sustainable workplace."

Fostering Innovation

The Microsoft China R&D Campus has been designed to foster creativity and to create the most suitable environment for developing the world’s latest innovations.

Researchers and engineers from CRD, which includes Microsoft Research Asia (MSR Asia), the Advanced Technology Center (ATC), Server and Tools Business Group (STB), Microsoft Asia Center for Hardware (MACH) and many other product R&D organizations, will focus their efforts on fundamental research, technology incubation, product development, and ecosystem partnerships.

New collaboration spaces will make it easy for researchers and engineers to gather and share ideas. The Skygardens, located throughout the building, will allow people to gather and contemplate how to address the biggest problems facing mobile and embedded technologies, web technology products and services, digital entertainment, servers and tools, and emerging markets. "Communication Stairs", which enjoy abundant natural light and are conveniently located, will promote and encourage internal communication and save electricity by limiting excessive elevator use.

"Every aspect of this new campus has been designed to create a healthy work environment for our researchers so that they can focus on innovation" added Zhang. "This campus represents the role China is playing to help shape Microsoft’s growing portfolio of products and services as the company expands its business across the world. We look forward to seeing the future innovations that will emerge from the Microsoft China R&D Campus."