Article in Times of India, 16 Oct '08
The city will be home to software giant Microsoft's first innovation centre (MIC) in the country. The idea is to promote innovation and joint projects involving industry, students and faculty, among others. To be located as part of a new institute, which was announced by the College of Engineering Pune here on Thursday, the MIC's focus will be on areas integral to the growth of software economies.
Speaking to TOI, a Microsoft spokesperson said, "Developing skills and intellectual capital, industry partnerships and funding for software companies, will be the core thrust. COEP is the first local partner to get into an alliance for the MIC". Microsoft is looking at other institutions too to be a part of this venture, the spokesperson said. She said, "Good academic institutions, talent and a vibrant industry spurred the move to set up the MIC in Pune." The company, however, refused to elaborate on details regarding investment.
Earlier, CoEP director Anil Sahasrabudhe and noted entrepreneurs Narendra Kale and Sanjay Inamdar jointly announced the launch of the ‘Bhau institute of innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership' (BIEL) . As a joint venture of CoEP and ‘CoEP Alumni', BIEL is the brainchild of Kale and Inamdar, who have donated Rs 1 crore each for the project. The institute will focus on training students as well as second-generation entrepreneurs in setting up ventures of their own. BIEL will offer three- to six-month courses in entrepreneurship and innovation, said Kale. The curriculum for these courses is being developed in consultation with two internationally acclaimed professors from the US, he added.
Sahasrabudhe said, "Microsoft has agreed to house its MIC on one floor of the proposed new building for the BIEL and will provide modern instructional computing infrastructure and training modules.