About
Microsoft Azure for Research
Whether it’s a computer with more memory, a cluster with thousands of cores, a big data platform, an internet of things solution, or open-source machine learning at scale, you can achieve more using the cloud. Microsoft Azure provides an open, flexible, global platform that supports multiple programming languages, tools, and frameworks.
Currently open special requests for proposals
We do not currently have any open calls for proposals for the use of Azure for research at this time. Please check back on this page for future RFPs and monitor Microsoft Research’s social media channels for future RFP announcements.
Azure in action
Researchers around the world are using Microsoft Azure to enable them to accelerate their research. Find out more:
Alan Turing Institute
Changing the world with data science Read more…
Alan Turing Institute
Measuring human happiness and frustration using data science in the cloud Read more…
WorldPop
Counting every person on Earth to eradicate poverty and empower women Read more…
Smart Cities
Creating intelligent water systems to unlock the potential of Smart Cities Read more…
ATLAS project
Research scientist uses Microsoft Cloud technology for high-energy physics computing Read more…
University of Cambridge
From cancer to crop genomics — using Research as a Service at the intersection of computers and biology Read more…
University College London
Democratizing AI to improve citizen health Read more…
University of California, Berkeley
A new understanding of the world through grassroots Data Science education at UC Berkeley Read more…
University of Rochester
Overcoming the fear of public speaking using cloud-based technology Read more…
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Predicting floods and improving public safety through Cortana Intelligence Suite Read more…
University of Oxford
Intelligent cloud computing lifts villages out of water poverty Read more…
University of Nottingham
Untangling airports using open source tools on Microsoft Azure Read more…
University of Washington
Saving shellfish harvest by predicting ocean chemistry using Microsoft Azure Read more…
University of Washington Tacoma
Using machine learning and AI to reduce hospital readmissions Read more…
If you are using Microsoft Azure for a cloud-based research project and would like to share your story, please let us know and we will share your great work with the community. Email us at azurerfp@microsoft.com.
Learn
Azure for Research hands-on labs
Hands-on labs are intended to familiarize researchers and data scientists with the services Azure offers to aid them in their research, especially with regard to high-performance computing, big-data analysis, and analyzing data streaming from Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. There are detailed walk-throughs and what’s more you can download the material and work through it yourself. The labs are available under an open license on the online learning portal. Feel free to re-use this material for your own courses. All we ask is that you please let us know if you are using it.
On-demand videos
Watch the online training videos developed to provide a core curriculum for scientists interested in using Microsoft Azure for research. We recommend watching them in sequence from 1 to 6.
The one-hour, interactive online sessions on Microsoft Azure have been turned into a great webinar video series. The webinars were designed to help you understand the value and capabilities of cloud computing and how you can use it for your research in practical ways.
Interested in Azure Machine Learning? Access tutorials that’ll help with everything from setting up your first predictive analytics experiment, to publishing results, to creating a complete machine learning solution.
Technical papers
Choose from a selection of technical papers made for researchers to help you to quickly start working with Azure. The papers cover a range of topics from ‘Getting started with Azure’ to ‘Azure Virtual Machines’ to ‘Azure Cloud Services’. Some prior technical computing skills are assumed. Read the technical papers with instructions on using Azure features.
Getting started with Microsoft Azure
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- Microsoft Azure for Research Overview (PDF, 961 KB)
- Microsoft Azure for Linux and Mac Users (PDF, 1.62 MB)
- An Introduction to Using Python with Microsoft Azure (PDF, 1.66 MB)
- Visualization with Excel Tools and Microsoft Azure (PDF, 1.61 MB)
- Creating Microsoft Azure Web Sites (PDF, 1.6 MB)
- Managing Scientific Data with Microsoft Azure Storage (PDF, 1.26 MB)
- Building Scientific Data Solutions in Microsoft Azure (PDF, 1.03 MB) Data (XLXS, 5.04 MB)
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Microsoft Azure Cloud Services (Platform as a Service)
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- Scaling a Microsoft Azure Cloud Service (PDF, 742 KB)
- Installing the Microsoft Azure BLAST Example (PDF, 991 KB)
- Building Scalable Services in Microsoft Azure with Python (PDF, 859 KB)
- High Performance Computing on Microsoft Azure for Scientific and Technical Applications (PDF, 1.04 MB)
- MATLAB Distributed Computing Server with HPC Cluster in Microsoft Azure (PDF, 2.39 MB)
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Virtual machines in Microsoft Azure (Infrastructure as a Service)
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- Getting Started with Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines (PDF, 977 KB)
- Using and Contributing Virtual Machines to VM Depot (PDF 1.17 MB)
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Azure IaaS for IT pros
Learn Microsoft Azure from the experts—and at no financial cost to you. These Microsoft Azure infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) training courses cover key technical topics for IT pros and developers, including Azure Virtual Machines and virtual networks. In addition, IT pros can gain insight into platform-as-a-service (PaaS) implementation, including using PowerShell for automation and management, using Active Directory, migrating from on-premises to cloud infrastructure, and important licensing information. Enroll in our Azure training courses and discover the advantages of cloud computing with Microsoft Azure.
Case studies
Measuring human happiness and frustration using data science in the cloud
Counting every person on Earth to eradicate poverty and empower women
Research scientist uses Microsoft Cloud technology for high-energy physics computing
Creating intelligent water systems to unlock the potential of Smart Cities
From cancer to crop genomics — using Research as a Service at the intersection of computers and biology
Democratizing AI to improve citizen health
A new understanding of the world through grassroots Data Science education at UC Berkeley
Cloud computing changes the way we practice public speaking
Preventing flood disasters with Cortana Intelligence Suite
Securing safe water through Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud
Buckled up and ready to go? Untangling airports using open source tools on Microsoft Azure
Predicting ocean chemistry using Microsoft Azure
All that RaaS: saving lives and transforming healthcare economics
Microsoft Azure helps researchers predict traffic jams
Cloud computing helps make sense of cloud forests
Blog
Cloud computing guide for researchers – Real HPC with linear scaling on thousands of cores
Cloud computing guide for researchers – Learn how to use Microsoft Azure for research and data science
Cloud computing guide for researchers – Cloud technology for high-energy physics computing