MBR_ISSUE 40_Lowres

TECHNOLOGY
Malta Business Review
Microsoft confirms its committment to Malta as the country is embarking
on its next endeavour, in its continuous voyage to be a leader in technology.
Microsoft aims to empower every person and every organization on the planet to
achieve more. And in this is exactly what we are doing here, today, together, to
empower every citizen and every organisation in Malta to achieve more.
Ms Peggy Antonakou said this, when today
the Government of Malta and Microsoft
signed an important agreement focusing on
several technologies including blockchain,
artificial intelligence, internet of things aimed
at supporting the strategic themes of the
official announced National Digital Strategy in
all three pillars, namely the Digital Citizen, the
Digital Business and the Digital Government.
Ms Antonakou said that Malta, a small country
with a big digital vision, is putting again itself in
the lead. Embracing new technologies, investing
strategically in a competitive advantage and
translating this into economic growth and
prosperity for its economy and its citizens.
Because a big digital strategy means nothing
without a better life for the people.
We understand that governments cannot do
this alone. As a leading technology company,
we recognise our responsibility in line with
our mission, to work in partnership with
governments and communities to drive
economic and social prosperity and ensure
everyone has access to the digital dividents of
development and growth.
Our presence in Malta, for the past 15 years
was built on embracing and empowering
exactly that. We continuously supported
all aspects of Malta’s ICT eco-system, from
the private to the public sector, from the
education to the financial services. We were
proud to support start ups and education
thanks to, and not only, our very own
Innovation Centre, one of the only forty we
have around the globe, where we boast to
have hosted more than 150 start ups and
12000 students teachers and professionals.
Through this agreement Microsoft will
promote and accelerate in Malta the
worldwide program of Microsoft for Startups
through disruptive technologies. It's a 500m
worldwide investment and our intent is
to promote it heavily in cooperation with
Government. Main goal to increase further
the utilization of the existing investment in the
Microsoft Innovation Center for the benefits
of the local economy and society. Microsoft
will also further increase the readiness and
digital skills in the disruptive technologies
through Conferences and workshops. The
company will invest in pilot innovative projects
which will utilize disruptive technologies in
the Public and Private Sector of Malta. In this
investment as Microsoft we will contribute
with the top of our specialists.
Reflecting on where the relation between
the Government of Malta and Microsoft
is today, and Ms Antonakou referred to an
inspiring quote by Microsoft’s CEO, Satya
Nadella, who in his book Hit Refresh writes
Photo: DOI- Jeremy Wonnacott
that “our indsutry does not respect tradition.
What it respects is innovation.” She argued
that the embracement of innovation was
always at the centre of the agenda since the
meeting which kicked off the discussions for
this agreement in January, and just like it was
over the past fifteen years. When at the turn
of the millenium Malta started its journey to
become a regional centre of excellence, there
was innovation at the core. That innovation
earned the country the respect of many, but
back then we were among the first, if not the
first global company to commit ourselves.
Fifteen years later, Malta is once again leading
the way and we’re again here, in the same
room where the first agreement was signed
in 2003, ready to be by Malta’s side in its
continous quest for digital leadership, by
working together for a digital future. MBR
Creditline: Copororate Identities
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