Strategic partnership between Malta and Microsoft

The Government of Malta and Microsoft Corporation today announced they have reached an agreement to enter into a strategic partnership for the next five years. The partnership is made up of a number of key initiatives, including Government licensing, licensing for schools, educational programmes and initiatives and the establishment of a Microsoft Innovation Centre in Malta that will be the first on a global scale to focus on Cloud Computing.

Government and Microsoft also announced that a Microsoft Innovation Centre will be set up in Malta in 2012 with a seed investment of more than €3 million over 5 years between Microsoft and its partners. Even though there are over 100 Microsoft Innovation Centres, the one in Malta will be the first ever Innovation Centre worldwide specialising on Cloud Computing. The goal of the innovation centre is to stimulate a strong ICT skills base in Cloud Computing and the development of Cloud Computing Solutions and Services that can be marketed locally and beyond our shores.

The Enterprise Agreement signed between Government and Microsoft, which will impact all Government knowledge workers, will bring about a reduction of 12% in annual licensing costs for Government. The enterprise-wide licenses for Windows 7 will translate in higher productivity, improved security and stability and access to enhanced desktop features such as user interface, mobility and communication and remote management.

The School Agreement covers all the licenses required for Microsoft Windows operating system and Office software for 28,000 users in state primary and secondary schools, including students, teachers and administration. Through this agreement, Government will save 27% in annual licensing costs.

The strategic partnership between the Government and Microsoft Corporation incorporates various initiatives aimed to benefit students and ICT professionals, the ICT industry, and the wider economy.

Three major educational initiatives include a student software offer, Live@Edu and DreamSpark.  

Maltese students and teachers who attend or teach in state and non-state schools from Kindergarten level to University level, will be able to acquire Windows 7 Professional Upgrade and Office Professional 2010 for the price of €79.79, 86% cheaper than the current market price. Registrations from students and teachers to purchase the software will be accepted online and are expected to open in September 2011.

Live@Edu will provide free access to cloud hosted online services for local students who will be able to benefit from free hosted email (Outlook Live), free online storage (Skydrive) and make use of Office web apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.

DreamSpark will offer post-secondary and tertiary students free access to professional Microsoft developer, designer and gaming software such as Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Developer, Visual Studio and Expression Studio. These software development tools, which usually have a price tag of approximately €1,500, will be available for free for local educational institutions for the benefit of students and teachers.

Hon Austin Gatt, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communication (MITC), said that the relationship between Government and Microsoft established a decade ago was not only built on a commercial premise but above all intended to have spill-over benefits through value added initiatives for the wider society and economy. Minister Gatt made reference to the various Microsoft related initiatives launched over the past ten years, including student software offers, the Microsoft Academies at the University of Malta and the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST), ICT training for teachers, the opportunity given to local students to participate in the global Imagine Cup Competition and others.