Adrianna Zammit | A venue for creativity and innovation

Just a few days ago, Microsoft Malta inaugurated its Microsoft Innovation centre at Skyparks in Luqa. Why is this a milestone and what does it represent for Microsoft Malta?

Everybody knows the giant leaps and advances that Malta has attained over the past few years, establishing itself as a center of IT excellence. In the light of this, having a Microsoft Innovation Center in Malta is a milestone not only for Microsoft Malta but an important achievement for the country in its quest to further establish the IT sector as a main driving force for the economy. The significance of this milestone is further enhanced when one takes into consideration that there are only 110 MIC's in around 40 countries round the world.

How did the establishment of the Microsoft Innovation Centre come about? How long has it been in the works and what did it involve?

The Microsoft Innovation Center is a tangible proof of the collaboration that Microsoft Malta wants to see and facilitate between government, academics and industry participants to generate innovative research, technology and software solutions. Microsoft's plan to open an MIC in Malta were unveiled a year and a half ago and since then, we have been working on developing the concept, the on-site premises and most importantly, carefully selecting the business partners that will be helping us making this project a successful one.

In fact we are proud that Malta's MIC has already found great support from some outstanding partners that include BMIT, GO, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Demajo Group, Newtech and the University of Malta.

What does the establishment of the Microsoft Innovation Centre mean for the Maltese IT and software development industry? What will it allow Malta to achieve in this regard?

As in this international network, Malta's MIC will be providing access to world-class resources for software developers, IT professionals, university students, academic faculties and entrepreneurs. It is an MIC focusing on Cloud Technology with clear and defined targets namely that of training individuals in the latest technology and business skills, enhancing their employability prospects within the sector and to incubate new start-ups that will give life to new and exciting ideas.

Most importantly the MIC will be bringing more direct support to the local industry, be it support in developing applications on Microsoft Technology  to accessing to information about Microsoft Technology. We had a line-up of workshops and events that tackle a vast array of business topics. We want to encourage the community to be more active. With the MIC, we will create a venue where youths, students and entrepreneurs can network, share ideas and create companies.

A lot of emphasis is being placed currently on the need for Malta to expand its skill and knowledge-based valued added industries and sectors. Are the current conditions suitable for this expansion to take place in the IT sector?

The Europe2020 strategy focuses on this and on unleashing Europe's entrepreneurial potential in order to fuel economy and also grow job creation.  ICT innovations are both a driver and a support for these transformations and in the last couple of years Malta's IT sector has been growing and improving to embrace this strategy. Looking at our experienced partner ecosystem and the fact that Malta the 5^th highest percentage of employees with ICT skills in Europe I believe Malta's IT sector is on the right track to embrace this expansion

IT and other skill-based sectors depend heavily on proper educational infrastructures to provide the necessary workforce. Is the local educational system up to scratch in this regard?

I believe that a lot of work has been done within the local educational infrastructure to bring students in line with the modern demands of today's technological environment. Never as much as today have local students been exposed to IT and all its advantages. Throughout the past years, Microsoft too has been very active in this important sector, remaining close to students and educators alike to be abreast with modern demands and learning how to use technology as an everyday tool that accompanies them in their educational journey and empowering them with all the resources that prepare them for tomorrow's working environment.

The fact that we have the University of Malta as one of our major partners at the MIC reflects our commitment to support the educational infrastructure better. We are also delighted at the recent opening of a new ICT Services building and the new €17 million Faculty of Information and Communication Technology at University. All this serves at providing a solid base on which to develop the local IT skills sector.

Is there more than can be done to facilitate the expansion of the IT and software development industry in the future? What would Microsoft Malta like to see take place in this regard?

There is always room for improvement and growth and Malta is definitely on the right track. Governments focus is on efficiency, citizen well-being, job creation and opportunity and Microsoft Malta is committed to help the local government achieve this vision through the use of ICT. Hence why, as part of our long-term plan, we have now inaugurated our largest investment thus far; The Microsoft Innovation Centre. What we want now is to increase its usage we urge Students, Entrepreneurs and start-ups to take advantage of Microsoft Programs and the actual physical location to not only develop their ideas but also set-up their business with our support.

In what ways will the Microsoft Innovation Centre allow Malta to develop and expand its existing IT sector? What opportunities will it create for the island?

As happens throughout the international network of MIC's, Malta's Microsoft Innovation Center will be offering specialized training, technology related business skills and soft skills, workshops, prototyping opportunities, technical support and logistics to create innovative prototypes, collaboration with visiting experts to Malta and more.

MIC's are very special places to be especially if one has great ideas, has a budding entrepreneurial spirit and wants to be guided by those who have already treaded the same path before him and reached a high level of success. The potential of these Microsoft Innovation Centers is backed by a very positive track record. Over the past 3 years, Microsoft Innovation Centers have reached over 1.1 million students and ICT professionals and these numbers stand to increase further as we witness a constant increase in the role of IT in our lives.

What is Microsoft Malta envisaging as its next milestone?

In 2004, Microsoft Corporation signed the first Strategic Alliance agreement with the Government of Malta as a sign of its commitment towards the country. This commitment involved promoting economic growth and development at a local level and this is what we have been doing for the last 10 years in Malta; supporting in children, students and teachers' training. We have also contributed to the Maltese ICT industry, something which we started to do many years back and which we have now extended. We are providing solutions to our partners in Malta and with the new innovation centre we plan to trigger and ignite startups in Malta.

Through the Microsoft Innovation Centre and Microsoft Programs we are enabling innovators and entrepreneurs to have access to the best of our technologies and expertise to test their business plans and certainly help them market their innovative cloud services in particular. This is what we have done so far and we will continue to push on these initiatives to support Malta further. Additionally there have been a lot of accomplishments in terms of e-government. What we are trying to do now is work deeply with the government on enabling the next generation of services through the cloud.

We are openly discussing with the government the way the cloud can help in a number of areas such as the main connection between government and citizens. With the most recent strategic partnership agreement signed in 2011, Microsoft has forged its role in cloud computing in Malta and we want to continue to feature in Malta's success story in the field of technology.