La Trobe Uni Microsoft Centre: an Australian-First
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Media release - 12 July 2007
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Victorian students, academics, SMEs and start-up companies will see their innovative ideas brought to life with the help of Australia’s first campus-based Microsoft Centre that brings together cutting edge hardware and software.
Officially opening the first of three La Trobe University Microsoft Centres in Bundoora today, the Minister for Information & Communication Technology, Tim Holding, said the partnership between the Victorian Government, Microsoft, La Trobe University and the local ICT industry was fostering high-tech industry development in the local ICT sector.
“The La Trobe University Microsoft Centre will provide a product development platform for cutting edge technology, contributing to economic growth through the development of world-class technology and new intellectual property,” Mr Holding said.
A major beneficiary of the Centre will be the Victoria.NET industry cluster, a group of 400 Victorian companies established in 2003 under the Bracks Government’s $1million ICT Linkages program.
“The Victoria.NET cluster is a well-established network, which is cementing its reputation as a global hub for .NET software development in web service technologies,” Mr Holding said.
“The La Trobe University Microsoft Centre will provide Victoria.NET members, academia and students with access to the .NET platform and technology which will help develop products for commercialisation and ultimately contribute to Victoria’s economic growth.
“The benefits of setting up a Centre like this are the mentoring opportunities for smaller companies, who gain access to giants such as Microsoft, Intel and i-mate, as well as creating better student-to-business linkages, making Victorian students more ‘job ready’.
The Centre will be located at the La Trobe University’s R&D Park, which is one of the largest technology parks in Australia.
La Trobe University’s Centre for Technology Infusion Director, Professor Jack Singh, said this specialist technology initiative stimulates an environment for innovation and foster high-tech industry development in the ICT sector.
“The Centre’s vision is to create an environment where software developers, students, researchers and start-up SME’s can bring ideas to life through the fusion of world class hardware, software and mentoring,” Professor Singh said.
The Centre is also supported by technology companies Intel, WACOM, and i-mate. |
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