Microsoft Research plans major expansion in India

Microsoft Research plans major expansion in India

Microsoft Research will increase twofold its employee strength in its division in India over the next year and a half. Not only will the existing research areas be enhanced but new areas will also be added.

Microsoft Research announced on Thursday its plans to create new teams in its Bangalore lab for research in the areas of cryptography, security, algorithms and multimedia security. “Our India plans include expansion of the teams in the existing research areas and forming new research groups for cryptography and security. Cryptography is a key area of research for Microsoft because of its impact in areas such as basic computer security, media rights and management,” said Rick Rashid, senior Vice President, Microsoft Research.

The new team would be led by Mr. Ramarathnam Venkatesan, who is a champion cryptographer of Microsoft Research in Redmond, United States. The cryptography team in Redmond has been instrumental in developing Microsoft's Office application software.

According to Mr. P Anandan, the Managing Director of Microsoft Research, India, the unit will single out research areas pertinent to India. It will undertake research in areas for which suitable manpower is available.

“We intend to support and help boost India's technology initiatives as well as to train great, local scientific minds to excel and advance the progress of basic research in India,” said Mr. Anandan. “Government, industry and academia continue to be important partners of Microsoft Research India as part of this initiative.”

Microsoft Research India will organize a four-week summer school for students of premier institutes in India, in which experts of different research areas will deliver lectures. “As a world-class lab, Microsoft Research India's goal is to attract the best talent from both within and outside the country.” said Anadan.

The Bangalore unit is one of the six facilities of Microsoft Research worldwide. It has 50 personnel and conducts research in the areas of geographical information systems (GIS), multilingual systems and technologies for emerging markets.