Microsoft Supports the Growth of IT and the Generation of Innovation

Microsoft Innovation Center offers a variety of programs to support software/hardware development companies, systems integrators, educational institutions, and entrepreneurs.

These reports provide detailed reports of Microsoft Innovation Center’s activities and events. This information will provide in-depth insights of the programs offered by Microsoft Innovation Center.

This page introduces the facilities available through Microsoft Innovation Center programs. These facilities consist of a wide range of hardware environments, covering from small scale to very large scale environments.

Contact information for questions regarding programs and facilities offered by Microsoft Innovation Center.

April 21 – 24, 2009, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond Campus, WA, U.S.A
Japan Venture Program 2009, a part of Microsoft IT Venture Support Program, a program designed for Japanese IT Venture companies to experience Microsoft technologies and mutual interaction among them, was recently held. Thirteen participants from the selected IT venture companies and local governments from various regions of Japan, including Asahikawa City in Hokkaido and Kochi Prefecture in the Shikoku area, visited Microsoft Corporation Redmond Campus in WA, U.S.A. This is the sixth year since the program started, and the participants attended a two-day seminar of Japan IT Venture Program in the Executive Briefing Center (EBC) building.

March 30th, 2008, Meguro Gajoen 2F Room Hana-Tsudoi
The Student Day 2009, a conference for students interested in computing or Microsoft Technologies, was held and as a part of this event, Imagine Cup Japan 2009, a global technology competition for students aiming to be next generation’s engineers, was held at the same venue.

March 6th, 2009, Microsoft Chofu Technology Center
In February, 2009, 2009 Microsoft IT Venture Support Program and 2009 Microsoft Incubation Program started. With cooperation from local governments and IT associations in various regions of Japan, Microsoft offers technology and marketing support to the selected partner companies for a period of one year.

December 4th, 2008, Softopia Japan Center Bldg. (Ogaki, Gifu)
Softopia Japan Foundation and Gifu Information Industry Association co-hosted Small/Mid-Sized Business Computerization Fair in Softopia, an event to support local industries by the use of IT.

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008, Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Shibuya, Tokyo)
On November 19th, Microsoft Innovation Award 2008 the Best Commercial Business Award winner was announced at Microsoft Innovation Day 2008 at Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Shibuya, Tokyo).

October 14th, 2008, Asahikawa Research Center
The City of Asahikawa, Asahikawa Information & Communication Technology (ITC), and Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan agreed to work together to realize the concept "Asahikawa; City of Web Design" and to vitalize the local IT industry. They established a local branch of Microsoft Innovation Center at the Asahikawa Research Center, and had a signing ceremony and press conference.

September 12th, 2008, The University of Aizu (Public University Corporation)
Aizu IT Summer Forum 2008, an event where local companies can experience cutting-edge IT technologies, was held at the University of Aizu (Public University Corporation), Fukushima Prefecture, on September 12^th, 2008. As with last year, Microsoft Co., Ltd, Japan offered a session by its engineer. At the keynote speech, Shunichi Kajisa (CTO, Microsoft Co., Ltd) introduced Microsoft's new directional concept, the Internet cloud, and he discussed the company's activities around this new concept.

August 26th – 29th, 2008, Tech Ed 2008 Yokohama
Tech Ed 2008 Yokohama, one of the largest technical conferences Microsoft presents worldwide, was held at Pacifico Yokohama from August 26th to 29th. The winner companies at Microsoft Innovation Award 2008 exhibited their award winning solutions at Showcase (exhibition booths). Like a previous year, the Best Commercial Business Award winner would be elected based on the votes cast by the Tech Ed participants and all Microsoft employees.

July 30, 2008, Microsoft Chofu Technology Center
On July 25th, 28th and 29th, Windows + Services Consortium (wipse) and Microsoft Co. Ltd. Japan conducted a collaborative experimental project to verify the interoperability of Office Open XML Formats. wipse and Microsoft announced to the press that their project proved Office Open XML Formats help facilitate data exchange between various systems.

July 3rd – 8th, 2008, Paris, France
Imagine Cup is a global technology contest for technology students from all over the world. A total of 370 elected students, from 61 countries, chosen from 200,000 nominees from all over the world, came to the world finals in Paris, competing based on the theme of "Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment.”

June 20, 2008, Sumitomo Skyhall
wipse (Windows + Services Consortium), aiming at the proliferation and promotion of the new generation of user experience where Windows platforms and services integrate, held “IT Venture Community SaaS Seminar,” and it confirmed Microsoft’s efforts for SaaS and its business potential.

March 31st, 2008 at Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan HQ; April 27th, 2008 at HAL Nagoya
Imagine Cup is a world wide technology competition for students aspiring to be the next generation of engineers. A large number of teams submitted entries to the highly competitive Software Design invitationals in the contest. Three teams selected for the best product award participated in Imagine Cup 2008 in Japan.