| Unlimited Potential |
Microsoft began with the dream of a PC on every desk and in every home. Thirty years ago, this seemed impossible. Today, for the more than one billion people that Information technology has touched, life has changed profoundly: Information is more readily available, connections are more easily made, commerce is more quickly achieved, and success is closer than ever. But for more than five billion people, the opportunity to learn, connect, create, and succeed remains elusive.
With Microsoft Unlimited Potential™, we are committed to helping all people benefit from information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible, affordable, and relevant to their needs. By partnering with governments, partners, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), educators, and academics, we're taking an innovative approach to enabling new avenues of social and economic empowerment for the underserved populations of the world. With particular emphasis on young people - because they represent the future of our communities - we are focusing our efforts through delivering solutions in three key, interrelated areas. |
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| Transforming Education |
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High-quality education is the foundation for success and growth. There is a need for empowered teachers, better curricula, and the ability for students to connect with one another and the rest of the world. The combination of quality content, partnerships, training, and broad access-complemented with the most appropriate technology tools to author, distribute, teach, and connect-can transform education. Some of our programs include:
- Project Shiksha for accelerating IT literacy - Started in 2003, the project has impacted about 2,60,000 school teachers and over 11 million students till date in government schools across the country. Launched in India in December 2003 by Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation, the project had a target of reaching out to 80,000 teachers by December 2008, a period of five years. In December 2007, a year ahead of the deadline, the target was surpassed by more than 250 percent. 11 Microsoft IT Academies, in 10 states, including Maharashtra, Uttaranchal, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, are up and running today.
- IITM Microsoft Windows Technologies Lab - Inaugurated in February 2008 at IIT Chennai, the IITM Microsoft Windows Technologies Lab has been envisaged as a hub that will harness innovation through research, and provide a platform for faculty and students to leverage the platform for a variety of research and trainings.
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| Fostering Local Innovation |
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A vibrant local technology industry can contribute to strong economic growth. By bringing together local governments, independent software vendors (ISVs), universities, small businesses, and investors, we can help foster innovative ideas and then help communities translate those ideas into business success with the following programs:
- Microsoft Innovation Centres - for providing local software communities with a comprehensive set of programs and services to expand work-force skills, create jobs, strengthen innovation and improve competitiveness.
- Microsoft E-governance Innovation Lab in New Delhi - for enabling research for Governments to create new class of applications & solutions especially for e-governance, and to create a framework and architecture to incorporate use of IT in working of government departments and conduct research for emerging technologies in the e-governance domain.
- Imagine Cup - the world's premier student technology competition is one way Microsoft is encouraging young people to apply their imagination, their passion, and their creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world today.
- Joint efforts with NASSCOM - for creation of a software product quality certification initiative to improve the base quality of software products from Indian ISVs by imparting world class processes and practices to the product development methodology. Microsoft also has end to end partnerships with ISVs like Skelta, Ramco, Astrovix, Talisma and Sonata to name a few.
- Microsoft launches BizSpark to jumpstart entrepreneurship - Microsoft India has unveiled Microsoft BizSpark - a global program designed to accelerate the success of IT entrepreneurs through software support and a vibrant ecosystem - in the country. BizSpark aims to provide Indian startups with software, support and visibility at a time in the lifecycle when they are most valuable and least affordable - during their first three years, with no upfront costs and minimal requirements.
Microsoft BizSpark is structured to help startups take advantage of the resources and support of a global network of hundreds of organizations: economic development agencies, university incubators, hosters and investors. Microsoft BizSpark is available to all startups who are actively engaged in the development of software-based product or service that is a core piece of their business model. They need to have been in business for less than three years and should be privately held; and have less than USD1 million per capita revenue. A nominal USD 100 (INR 5000) program offering fee will be assessed when a startup exits the program, for instance after three years of participation, or due to going public or being acquired by a non-Startup company.
As a follow up of the BizSpark program, IDG Ventures India and Microsoft India announced an 'Early Stage Funding Program'. This partnership aims to offer dual benefit to the startups registering for Microsoft BizSpark wherein they will get a funding of up to 25 crore rupees by IDG Ventures and access to the Microsoft suite including the latest tools and technologies at no cost.
- DreamSpark - A software giveaway for an estimated 10 million plus qualified students in the country, DreamSpark aims to provide students access to the latest Microsoft developer and designer tools at no charge to unlock their creative potential and set them on the path to academic and career success.
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| Enabling Jobs and Opportunities |
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The right tools and the right partnerships can help people connect to valuable skills and new jobs, and help businesses run and grow.
- Project Jyoti : for enabling sustainable livelihood opportunities in rural India - This entails setting up Community Technology Learning Centres (CTLC) in partnership with NGOs. Till date Microsoft has made grants to 13 NGOs in India aggregating to Rs 37.5 crore (over USD 8.5 million) and has set-up a network of around 867 CTLCs.
- Project Vikas : In partnership with National Manufacturing Competitive Council (NMCC), Government of India, this initiative entails a five year action plan - and an investment of USD 15 million - to help Indian SMEs increase their global competitiveness through usage of IT to expand opportunities in the areas of job creation, market access, knowledge networks and enablement of supply chain linkages in the cluster ecosystem.
At Microsoft, we have always been inspired by empowering both the customers and partners. Project Vikas is a perfect example of how we're managing to do both - and, as a result, establishes a virtuous circle of local economic development. This ensures growth for its partner's along with high quality and relevant support to the end consumer at all times.
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About 3,35,000 school teachers and more than 11 million students impacted through Project Shiksha |
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A network of around 1000 CTLCs through Project Jyoti |
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An investment of USD 15 million made to help Indian SMEs increase global competitiveness |
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