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Innovation drives economic growth. As
technology continues to change and enhance
the world economy, Microsoft remains
committed to fostering local innovation
throughout Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Together with local governments, universities,
businesses, and other stakeholders,
we help grow the digital knowledge
economy. By placing technological skills
in the hands of individuals and companies,
Microsoft enables creative solutions
that meet local needs and translate into
new opportunities for people in emerging
economies.
For instance, Microsoft Innovation Centers
around the globe create an environment
that gives software developers, IT professionals,
universities, entrepreneurs, and
governments access to world-class resources.
Providing skills and technology across all
economic levels sparks new-business creation,
as today’s innovative ideas become
tomorrow’s real-world financial success. |
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| Local Innovation by the Numbers: |
- For every dollar Microsoft earns in Latin
America, companies in our regional
ecosystem earn $14.00 USD.*
- Microsoft-related employment in the
region accounts for 46% of the total IT work
force of 2.3 million.*
- Latin America and the Caribbean are home
to 17 Microsoft Innovation Centers.
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IDC, “Economic Impact of IT, Software and
Microsoft on the Latin American Markets,” 2007.
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| Strengthening
the Local Software
Economy |
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Strengthening the Local Software Economy (LSE)
is Microsoft’s commitment to accelerate innovation
in the information and communication technology
industry and create jobs that foster socioeconomic
growth.
In Latin America, we work closely with local
stakeholders to encourage strong, self-sustaining
software ecosystems that advance each country’s
economic health and foster entrepreneurial
growth throughout the industry.
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Almost 90 percent of Microsoft revenue is generated through partners - most of them small
companies. Through several programs, Microsoft
assists these firms in developing marketable
solutions tailored to customer needs, nurtures
employability among college students, supports related government programs, and helps new businesses grow - and remain - successful. Their achievements create a ripple effect that expands
socioeconomic opportunities for everyone
in the community. |
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| Imagine Cup |
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Microsoft’s annual Imagine Cup competition nurtures
initiative and innovation among promising
college students worldwide.
Teams compete to develop original software projects
that offer solutions to real-life problems. By
fostering economic opportunity among students,
Imagine Cup helps develop the next generation of
entrepreneurs. They in turn will strengthen technology
ecosystems in their local economies.
Of the 100,000-plus students who participated in
Imagine Cup 2007, more than 46 percent live in
Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jamaica’s team placed among the top winners with
Project CADI. This software solution enables distance
learning while transcending language barriers. |
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Imagine Cup both enhanced the team’s technical
skills and will help them develop a marketable
product, enriching Jamaica’s technology sector.
The 2008 Imagine Cup theme challenges students
to “Imagine a world where technology enables a
sustainable environment.” |
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“Imagine Cup is a stimulus for the technical development
of the students. When they are preparing
for the competition, the students work by
looking to improve themselves through the tools
that Microsoft offers.”
Professor Eduardo Morgado,
Coordinator of two Imagine Cup 2007teams from State
University of Sao Paulo, Brazil |
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| Supporting Research |
Microsoft Research supports academic researchers
worldwide in developing technologies to improve
health, education, and socioeconomic conditions.
For example, researchers at the University of Buenos
Aires, Argentina, are developing a telemedicine
solution called Digital Inclusion Kit in Health and
Higher Education. Led by Professors Guillermo
Marshall and Marcelo Risk, the team uses a smart
phone to connect with low-cost diagnostic tools,
such as electro-cardiogram and blood-pressure
monitors. The device sends and retrieves patient
information stored in a central database of digital
medical records.
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Recently, Marshall and Risk wrote of their extraordinary
experience working with Microsoft, which
provided technology enabling them to evaluate the
best possible alternatives.
For medically underserved populations, the project
would represent an advance in disease prevention
and diagnosis, benefiting patients, caregivers, and
hospitals in the region. |
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