Microsoft Innovation Center Report 2008-2009 vol.10
2009 Microsoft IT Venture Support Program and 2009 Microsoft Incubation Program Now in Action
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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.
On March 6th, Kick-off meeting 2009 was held for the selected partner companies and they received their program certifications. At the meeting, a presentation was given to explain details of the programs, introducing Microsoft Innovation Center and Microsoft Partner Programs.
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2009 Microsoft IT Venture Support Program and Microsoft Incubation Program Selected Partner Companies
The table below shows the list of the selected and semi selected partner companies of 2009 Microsoft IT Venture Support Program and 2009 Microsoft Incubation Program.
| Microsoft IT Venture Support Program | |||||
| Prefecture | Company (President) | ||||
| Selected Partners | |||||
Aomori |
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Kochi |
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Tokushima |
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Tottori |
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| Semi-Selected Partners | |||||
Aomori |
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Tokushima |
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Tottori |
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| Microsoft Incubation Program | |||||||
| Prefecture | Company (President) | ||||||
| Selected Partners | |||||||
Saitama |
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Kanagawa |
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Chiba |
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Continuous Support for Venture Companies with Strong Motivation
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“I am pleased to have you all here with your strong motivation,” Shunichi Kajisa (CTO, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan) said, to open the meeting, “although today’s weather reminds me of today’s economic situation, your enthusiasm seems to blow away this cold spring rain.” Kajisa gave his congratulations to the selected partner companies ofthe Microsoft IT Venture Support Program and Microsoft Incubation Program.
“Microsoft was a venture company when it was established in 1975,” continued Kajisa, “For a venture company, technology is very important as you know, but the most important thing is a motivation. Your venture spirit to look for a breakthrough regardless of the current situation is the first step to your success.”
As the representative of the selected partner companies, Yasushi Sakaguchi, CEO, Newcom Corporation (Microsoft Incubation Program) received aprogram certificate. Microsoft promised its continuous support for the selected companies.
After the certification ceremony, CTO Kajisa introduced the trend of Microsoft technologies. The latest platform from Microsoft provides great opportunities to create new solutions. Kajisa said he expected the selected companies to achieve great success by making the best use of this program, Microsoft technologies, and new human networks.
What Microsoft Expects from the Selected Partner Companies
Nobuaki Nagai (Senior Manager, Business Incubation (LSE), Developer & Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan) explained the meaning of participating in the Microsoft IT Venture Program and the Incubation Program. Nagai is in charge of promoting the IT industry in Japan as part of Microsoft’s corporate citizenship activity.
“At Microsoft, many employees still carry their venture spirit,” said Nagai, “I believe we have lots of things in common with you all. We encourage you to understand what businesses Microsoft is operating in the world and where the Japanese market is on our business map, and we would like to look for good partnerships with you to support you succeed.”
96% of Microsoft’s business depends on its partners. The partners’ successes are an essential for Microsoft. Providing continuous support to the partners will eventually help Microsoft grow. Nagai pointed out some common characteristics seen among the successful partner companies in the programs: having visible evaluation such as case studies; actively utilizing Microsoft partner programs; and efficiently taking advantages of Microsoft technologies and marketing support. Nagai concluded that there are great possibilities by establishing strong and trusted partnerships, where 1+1 can become 3, 4, or even 5.
At the presentation, Nagai introduced wipse (Windows + Services Consortium) as well. wipse is an organization that aims to proliferate and promote the new generation of user experience where the Windows platform and services integrate. In November, 2007, wipse established IT Venture Community to support technology-oriented IT venture companies. “You are all welcome to use this community,” Nagai continued,“ as a place to experience new technologies and to exchange information among partner companies.”
Available Programs
In the kick-off meeting, Microsoft representatives demonstrated the details of the programs offered to the selected partner companies. The partners can receive more advanced support through Microsoft Innovation Center’s Application Platform Program and Microsoft Partner Program.
Incubation Program and IT Venture Support Program
Microsoft offers technical and marketing support for a period of one year to the selected partner companies in Microsoft Incubation Program and Microsoft IT Venture Program.
Technical support includes the latest development environment through BizSpark and Empower for ISV Initiative programs. The partner companies will receive MSDN Premium Subscription that offers a development environment including all the operating systems, software, server products from Microsoft. In addition, technical support from Microsoft Innovation Center is also available. The partner companies will also be invited to a variety of paid events where the latest technology information is presented.
Marketing support includes the programs’ certified logos, which a number of the selected partner companies from previous years use for their products and business cards. Information about the selected companies will be distributed through Microsoft sites and various brochures. There are some additional benefits including seminars and training at the Microsoft Redmond campus in the U.S. and free annual fee (first year only) of wipse IT Venture Community.
| • | Development software/tools |
| • | Technical support |
| • | Invitation to conferences and training |
| • | Program logo usage |
| • | Promotion in catalogs and on Microsoft sites |
| • | Partner Meetings |
| • | Training at the Microsoft Redmond campus in the U.S. |
Microsoft Partner Program
Microsoft Partner Program is designed to support the IT business partner companies that use Microsoft products or technology to provide high quality services to their corporate customers. After the completion of Microsoft Incubation Program and Microsoft IT Venture Support Program, the partners can join this program to receive optimized support services to promote their business based on their focus area and business scope.
As a recommended program for the partner companies, Saburo Kageyama (Associate, Partner Group, Partner Marketing and Programs, Microsoft Co., Ltd, Japan) introduced Innovate On Program designed to help early adoption of Microsoft products. He also encouraged the newly selected partner companies to continue Microsoft Partner Program by obtaining ISV/Software Solutions Competency.
Microsoft Innovation Center Programs
The goal of Microsoft Innovation Center is to contribute to the IT industry in Japan by supporting individuals and organizations looking for global business opportunities such as software and hardware development companies, system integrators, educational institutions and entrepreneurs with innovative ideas. Participant companies in the Microsoft Incubation Program and Microsoft IT Venture Support Program can enroll in Microsoft Innovation Center programs. Through Microsoft Innovation Center, the partners can access a wide range of resources including Microsoft facilities and information resources.
Microsoft Innovation Center currently offers six programs
Following Kageyama, Kenzaburo Tamaru (Group Senior Manager, National Technology Office / Innovation Center, Microsoft Co., Ltd, Japan) explained Microsoft’s IP license offerings. Microsoft disclosed its IP (intellectual property) and offers its licenses. By using this program, the partner companies can use research results from Microsoft Research, protocol specifications developed by the product development departments and used in the actual products, and libraries in their solution development.
Microsoft Innovation Center Visit and Information Exchange
In the kick-off meeting, all the participants visited Microsoft Innovation Center facilities. The participants examined the advanced facility in close detail, and many partners seemed to consider utilizing the available programs.
A fellowship banquet was held after the kick-off meeting. In addition to the selected partner companies, Microsoft employees and Microsoft Innovation Award winning companies joined the banquet and enjoyed the discussion. Venture companies with the same spirit exchanged information between themselves and with Microsoft representatives.
| wipse IT Venture Community Server Solution Seminar | ||||
Preceding the Kick-off meeting, wipse IT Venture Community presented a seminar on February 20th. The main theme of this seminar was Server Solutions, explaining SQL Server and other solutions made possible with virtualization technology. Microsoft product managers in charge presented the latest information about the server products.
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