1

Microsoft Research Asia

A Partner in the Academic Community

Overview of University Collaboration Programs

John WarrenManager, University Relations

South East AsiaDecember 2005

2

Contents

• Overview of MSRA University Relations (UR)– Role of UR– Organization structure

• Key Initiatives & Programs– Outline– Some local examples

3

University Relations (UR)– the Regional Bridge

Build long-term in-depth mutually beneficial relations

Bridge between MSRA & universities:– Research collaboration– Curriculum innovation– Talent development– Academic exchange

4

University Relations (UR)– the local Bridge

• Team with the Microsoft subsidiaries to help facilitate opportunities for faculty members and students.

5

MSRA UR StructureMSR Asia

University Relations

Project & Program Owners

Subsidiary-based UR Managers

China

Japan

Taiwan/Hong Kong

Korea

Aus/NZ/Southeast Asia

Research Collaborations

Academic Exchanges

“Host” Director

6

Collaboration Programs

• Research Collaboration• Curriculum Innovation• Talent Development• Academic Exchange• Academic Round

Tables

7

Research Collaboration• MSRA and MSR Requests for Proposals (RFPs) (Curriculum or Re

search)• Recent Research awards resulting from MSRA RFPs

- Dr. Frederic Maire – QUT- Dr. Greg Wadley, University of Melbourne

• ARC linkage Grants• UNSW

• “Peer-to-Peer Computing” (will finish in 2006/7)• Monash

• “Context rich mobile agent technology.” (completed)• Macquarie

• “Trustworthy Computing” (will finish in 2006)• +2/3 more during CY2006

• Enterprise Information Infrastructure (EII)• Significant investment including academic exchange

8

Collaboration Programs

• Research Collaboration• Curriculum Innovation• Talent Development• Academic Exchange• Academic Round Tables

9

Curriculum Innovation• Requests for Proposals (RFPs) (Curriculum or Research)

- Curriculum awards resulting from RFPs- Dr. Ross Brown – QUT- Assoc. Prof. Paul Roe - QUT- Prof Vijay Varadharajan – Macquarie- Assoc. Prof. Francois Ladouceur – UNSW- Prof. Christine Mingins – Monash- Prof. Arkady Zaslavsky – Monash- David Jones – RMIT

• Two RFPs out now (close December 24)• Trustworthy Computing• Gaming & Graphics

• Facilitate faculty community• Microsoft Research Asia Theme workshops (March 2004 and 2005)• Faculty Summit

• Other• Sponsorship of .NET lab in Department of Computer Science at University of Melbourne

• Offering a Masters in Distributed Computing (incorporating .NET) – a world first.

10

Collaboration Programs

• Research Collaboration• Curriculum Innovation• Talent Development• Academic Exchange• Academic Round Tables

11

Talent Development• Microsoft Fellowship

– Winners at University of Sydney, University of New South Wales and Monash University 2004

– Winners at University of Sydney and RMIT University 2005

– 2006 program will be announced in March 2006– “Selected” Universities only at this stage

• “Stars of Tomorrow” Internship Program – e.g., Ying Zhang – RMIT University– (space, competitive, willing and able to work for a period

of time in Beijing)– WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY !!!!!!

12

Case Study: “Stars of Tomorrow”

- Microsoft Research Asia Internship Program Mission:

Nurture young research talent for both MSRA and the world research community.

• More than 2000 students from around 100 universities worldwide participated in the internship program in the past 6 years

• Work with top-notch researchers to learn methodology and skill of doing world-class research

• Learn MSRA culture and values

• Make an impact on the academic world

• Build personal academic network by communicating with researchers worldwide

13

Collaboration Programs

• Research Collaboration• Curriculum Innovation• Talent Development• Academic Exchange• Academic Round Tables

15

Academic Exchange• Why and How?• Faculty summit and 21st Century Computing Conference

– 9 Australian academics attended in 2003– 8 Australian academics attended in 2004– 8 Australian academics attended in 2005

• Regional Faculty Workshops (in Beijing)– For curriculum and research RFP winners and others– Build a “community”– Meet with MSR/A researchers

• Enterprise Information Infrastructure (EII) - comprises 48 leading researchers from 20 research institutions in Australia

– visiting academic to MSRA in Aug/Sept 2005 - Dr. Xuemin Lin (University of NSW)– Dr. Harry Shum - member of EII International Advisory Board– Dr. Wei-Ying Ma – Research Manager at MSRA – member of EII

• Dr. Harry Shum member of QUT Scientific Advisory Board for Australasian CRC for Interaction Design

• Hosted visits to MSRA

16

Case study:21st Century Computing Conference

• Annual 21st Century Computing Conference– 2003: 2 cities, 14 talks, 368 faculties, 6,500 students– 2004: 2 cities, 26 talks, 400 faculties, 6,900 students– Nobel Laureate, Turing, Fields, Draper award winners

17

Collaboration Programs

• Research Collaboration• Curriculum Innovation• Talent Development• Academic Exchange• Academic Round Tables

18

Academic Round Tables• What?

• opportunity for senior academics e.g., Deans/HODs/HoS to meet with MS Australia and MSRA in an informal environment

• Format• 2 Hours only - 1200 to 1400• 1200 – round table discussion, no presentations, no handouts• 1300 – lunch, discussion continues

• Sydney - Sept 2004 and Sept 2005• Melbourne – Feb 2005• NZ – March and Sept 2005• Singapore - October 2005

• Why?• stay in touch, inform each other, build relationships

19

Concluding comments

• Is Microsoft Research Asia too China centric?

• Is it changing?

20

Is Microsoft Research Asia too China centric? (cont)Summary of 2005 Faculty Summit delegates

Data of Attendees

Subs Attendees in 2005

Attendees in 2004

Attendees in 2003

# of attendees from China 100 105 102

# of China universities 30 30 40

# of attendees from Region 104 75 34

# of regional universities 49 44 25

Japan 21 12 0

Korea 20 13 5

Australia 8 8 9

Taiwan 20 13 11

Hong Kong 15 15 3

Singapore 4 3 2

Malaysia 2 3 3

Philippines 0 3 0

Thailand 2 3 0

New Zealand 4 0 1

US, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam 1, 2, 3, 2

MSRA UR or sub DPE, Public Sector

25 (12 from UR, 11 from DPE, 2 from PS)

20 10

# of Total Attendees 229 200 146

21

Is Microsoft Research Asia too China centric? (cont)

Gaming and Graphics RFP awards in 2005

• 4 of the top 10 awards were to Universities outside of China

• 3 of the 4 were to Australian Universities

22

Is Microsoft Research Asia too China centric? (cont)

Trustworthy Computing RFP awards in 2005

• 6 responses in total were determined worthy of an award

• 5 of the 6 were to non-Chinese Asia Pacific Universities

23

Concluding comments

• Is Microsoft Research Asia too China centric?• In some areas – yes• In other areas – definitely NOT

• Is it changing?• YES

24

More information?

25

Faculty Summit Nov 2004

26

For more information

Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA): http://research.microsoft.com/asia

MSRA University Relations (UR): http://research.microsoft.com/ur/asia

Email:- john.warren@microsoft.com

27

Coffee break time