Akihiro Oba (General Manager, Developer & Platform Evangelism, Microsoft Co., Ltd., Japan)

Kazuhiko Oigawa (Executive Officer, General Manager, Public Sector)

Shunichi Kajisa (CTO, Microsoft Co. Ltd, Japan)

October 21st, 2009, Sapporo Business Innovation Center
Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation, which operates Sapporo Innovation Center, holds Sapporo Innovation Day every year. Microsoft, co-hosting Sapporo Innovation Day 2009, sent instructors for the event as it has the past two years. The instructors introduced the latest information to the local developers and IT managers who use Microsoft platforms.

September 18th, 2009, The University of Aizu
The Aizu IT Summer Forum, held each year at the University of Aizu, is one of the activities based on a standard agreement between the university, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan, and F-COM Co. Ltd. to contribute to the revitalization of the local IT industry in the Aizu area of Fukushima Prefecture. Microsoft, on the executive committee for the Aizu IT Summer Forum, sent instructors for the forum as it has for the past two years. Instructors explained Microsoft's cloud computing strategy, which centers on Windows Azure.

August 26th - 28th , 2009, Tech･Ed Japan 2009
Microsoft hosted Tech･Ed Japan 2009, one of its largest global technical conferences, at Pacifico Yokohama from August 26th to 28th. The winner companies of Microsoft Innovation Award 2009 exhibited their award winning solutions at Showcase (exhibition booths). Like previous years, the Best Commercial Business Award winner would be selected based on the votes cast by Tech･Ed participants and all Microsoft employees.

July 31, 2009, Asahikawa Terminal Hotel
At Asahikawa Innovation Center, one of Microsoft Innovation Center’s local alliance organizations, Microsoft hosted a technology seminar entitled, “From ‘Think’ to ‘Experience’: the Future of IT and the Power of Design.” Microsoft introduced its ideas on the world of next-generation IT and the latest user experience (UX) technology that will support it.

July 3rd -7th, 2009, Cairo, Egypt
Imagine Cup is a global technology contest for technology students from all over the world. A total of 444 students in 149 finalist teams from 70 countries, made it to the finals from over 300,000 nominees worldwide, gathered in Cairo, Egypt. The finalists waged an exciting weeklong battle tackling a theme based on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals: “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems.”

June 22, 2009, Waseda University, Nishi-Waseda Campus
Since 2004, Waseda University Graduate School of Global Information and Telecommunications Studies has offered a CIO (Chief Information Officer) and IT Professional Training Course (CIO/IT course). Microsoft dispatches its architects to conduct the IT Solutions class of the CIO/IT course. Microsoft, in collaboration with academia, aims to foster IT human resources with greater knowledge and practical skills.

June 15, 2009, Microsoft Co., Ltd. Japan, Shinjuku HQ, Seminar Room
wipse, an organization aimed at the proliferation and promotion of the new generation of user experience where Windows platforms and services integrate, held the 6th wipse IT Venture Community Seminar. In addition to outlining the excellent usability provided by Windows 7 and Internet Explorer 8, the seminar discussed their compatibility and some key points to consider.

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.

Wednesday, November 19th, 2008, Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Shibuya, Tokyo)
On November 19th, Microsoft Innovation Award 2008 winners were announced at Microsoft Innovation Day 2008 at Cerulean Tower Tokyu Hotel (Shibuya, Tokyo)

March 26th, 2008, ANA Intercontinental Tokyo, Prism
On March 1st, 2008, the Institute of Building SOA Components and Assembly in Distributed Development Environment was established. On March 26th, a press conference was held to explain the objectives of the organization, details of its activities, and its future plans.

February 25th - 26th, 2008, Microsoft Chofu Technology Center
As a new programs, Microsoft Innovation Center began offering the Interoperability Program. A free seminar, Interoperability Seminar, was held, and a hands-on session was presented with the objectives of understanding Office Open XML format and acquiring programming techniques.

December 4th and 5th, 2007, Center for Corporative Research, University of the Ryukyus
At the University of the Ryukyus Center for Corporative Research, APITT (Advanced and Practical IT Training), that has long been participating in advanced IT human resources development, held an open lecture "Project Management Information System" as a part of its project management course. Despite weekday schedules, a large number of enthusiastic participants with their laptop PC’s attended the Office Project 2007 Hands-On session provided by Microsoft in this open lecture.

November 9, 2007, Lunascape Co., Ltd.
Sanjay Parthasarathy (Corporate Vice President, Developer & Platform Evangelism Group) visited Lunascape Co., Ltd. (Azabu, Minato Ward, Tokyo). During Sanjay’s visit, Hidekazu Kondo (President & CEO, Lunascape Co., Ltd) demonstrated their Microsoft Innovation Award (MIA) 2007 Best Commercial Business Award winning product Afterglow . Kondo made a variety of requests to Microsoft for its venture support programs, and discussed the possibility of collaboration with Microsoft in the future.

In November 2007, wipse (Windows + Services Consortium), aimed at the proliferation and promotion of the new generation of user experience where Windows platform and services integrate, established IT Venture Community to support technology-oriented IT venture companies. 23 companies joined IT Venture Community. To announce its establishment, a kick-off seminar was held. As a member of the wipse governing board, Microsoft Co., Ltd., Japan sent lecturers for two technical sessions.

October 22, 2007, Sapporo Electronics Center
Working with Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan, the City of Sapporo and Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation established Sapporo Innovation Center in the Sapporo Electronics Center (Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido) in July 2007.The center is designed to provide local IT companies with training, technological information, and migration tools, as well as marketing support with a global viewpoint. Sapporo Innovation Day, an event to introduce the facility and promote its programs, was held on October 22, 2007.

September 12st – 14th, 2007, Tokyo International Forum
On September 13th, 2007, the winners of Microsoft Innovation Award 2007 were announced at Innovation Japan 2007 at Tokyo International Forum.
Shunichi Kajisa (CIO, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan) and Kumi Fujisawa (Vice President, Thinktank SophiaBank) announced the award winners of Microsoft Innovation Award 2007. Anoop Gupta (Microsoft Corporate Vice President, Technology Policy and Strategy) honored the winners on behalf of the panel of judges.

August 23rd & 24th, University-Business Innovation Center, The University of Aizu
On August 23rd and 24th, 2007, The University of Aizu held Aizu IT Summer Forum, an event where local companies can experience cutting-edge IT technologies. Microsoft has offered the relevant programs since 2006 to contribute to the university's open lectures designed to foster .NET technicians, and Shunichi Kajisa (CIO of Microsoft Co, Ltd., Japan) and other Microsoft technicians offered some relevant programs in this forum. In addition to contributing to the events to energize the local economy, Microsoft agreed to work with the University of Aizu to continue to contribute to the university's .NET technology open lectures and support local IT venture companies.

August 21st – 24th, Tech Ed 2007 Yokohama
Tech Ed 2007 Yokohama, the biggest technical conference for engineers in Japan presented by Microsoft, was held at Pacifico Yokohama from August 21st to 24th. Microsoft Innovation Award Showcase demonstrated the solutions from the best 10 nominees in Microsoft Innovation Award's 2007 Best Commercial Business Award. Darren Huston (President & CEO, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan) visited the Showcase, and the general public wondered which solution will win the award.

June 12, 2007
City of Sapporo , Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation , and Microsoft Co., Ltd. agreed to establish "Sapporo Innovation Center" in Sapporo Electronics Center (Atsubetsu Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido) and to cooperate to support local industries and human resources development. The City of Sapporo and Microsoft Co., Ltd. are active participants in "IT Architect Development PBL Materials Development Project", a Research and Development Operation on MIC (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications) Advanced Information Communication Human Resources Development Program. Using the teaching materials developed in this program, the City of Sapporo will be the first local government to hold an IT architect development PBL seminar in Japan at Sapporo Innovation Center.

February 2007, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
With Sapporo Electronics and Industries Cultivation Foundation, Microsoft offered a demonstration experimental course "IT Architects PBL (Project-Based Learning) Training Materials Development Project", a research and development operation relating to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication’s (MIC) Advanced Information Communication Human Resources Development Program. Microsoft has agreed with the City of Sapporo to work together for advanced ICT (Information Communication Technology) human resources development and promotion operations, and by utilizing the PBL training materials developed in this demonstration experiment, it will contribute to fostering technicians with IT architect skills.

April 2007, Microsoft Co. Ltd., Japan
In October 2006, Microsoft Innovation Center started offering the Application Platform Program. As part of this program, two-day technical support service courses utilizing Microsoft Chofu Technology Center facilities are offered for the partners that develop products based on Microsoft products.

March 2007, Ikeuchi Lab, GraduateSchool of Interdisciplinary Information Studies, The University of Tokyo
In cooperation with the Japanese Government Team for Safeguarding Angkor (JSA), Ikeuchi Lab at The University of Tokyo is conducting Bayon Digital Archival Project, a modeling project of the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom, Cambodia. This spring, Ikeuchi Lab started taking advantage of the Technology Innovation Program offered by Microsoft Innovation Center. Using Microsoft facilities, Ikeuchi Lab will model the real objects using a parallel processing environment consisting of 100 machines and 4 nodes, merging TB image data with the detail of 1cm meshes.

Thursday, March 29, 2007, Microsoft Chofu Technology Center
Microsoft announced the elected partner companies of 2007 Microsoft Incubation Program. Microsoft Incubation Program is a program designed to foster small and midsize IT companies by providing development tools and software, technical support, training, and marketing support through cooperation with various venture business incubation programs provided by the local governments in Japan.

February 16, 2007, Gifu Prefecture
Microsoft agreed with Gifu Prefecture and IAMAS (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences/International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences) to work together to energize Gifu’s industries by promoting IT, and a signing ceremony and press conference were held at Gifu Prefectural Government Building.

December 8, 2006, IAMAS (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences/International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences)
IAMAS (Institute of Advanced Media Arts and Sciences/International Academy of Media Arts and Sciences), internationally famous for integration of media arts and cutting-edge information technology, announced that it has established a partnership with Microsoft for its educational materials and training courses. IAMAS plans to utilize Microsoft Innovation Center’s Human Resources Development Support program and offer a series of training programs and lectures related to the Windows platform in its curriculum lectures and adult extension courses.

On Monday, November 20, Microsoft announced to the press that it has established Microsoft Innovation Center. This report illustrates the details of the press conference.