MBR_ISSUE 49_MARCH_lowres

TECH INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH
Malta Business Review
developed Apps, Big Data platforms and
end-user services, now we are seeing
international start-ups coming through
the MIC and locating to the island.
These new young start-ups are focusing
on Gaming, Blockchain and AI, so the
shift has definitely changed.
MBR: The MIC’s first years were very
active in the community. Has that
changed?
MD: Not really. On a community level,
the MIC remained true to Microsoft’s
corporate mission “to empower every
person and every organization on
the planet to achieve more” and has
continued to work closely with many
organisations. Our business is about
empowering people and organizations
and we do this through the utility of
the company’s computing products.
The MIC over the past six years has
delivered programmes to educate,
encourage, innovate and empower
thousands of students, teachers and
professionals and will continue to do so.
Through Microsoft Philanthropies and
Microsoft Education we plan to deliver
more programmes such as DigiGirlz
(Girls in ICT), Women Back to Work,
Entrepreneurship, Teacher Training,
Robotics, 21st Century Classrooms,
Minecraft Learning and much more.
"Hosting and
mentoring start-ups
has always been one
of the main missions
of the Microsoft
Innovation Centre
MBR: What were one of the MIC’s
major highlights?
MD: Some of the major highlights in
the MIC’s calendar last year included
the 21st Century Classroom initiative
where students have been experiencing
the use of virtual reality and Minecraft
in the classroom as a means of
promoting the use of technology as a
more effective teaching tool. We have
organised virtual reality experiences
round Malta and Gozo, Coding classes,
Minecraft and LEGO Summer School,
our annual JAYE Social Innovation
Challenge centred round the application
of VR, Web Development, Robotics in
Business, we supported the PITCH startup
winners at SiGMA, hosted numerous
training workshops and Tech-Spark
Community events and delivered talks
and Masterclass sessions on Blockchain,
AI Bots, Cognitive Artificial Intelligence.
We have also been particularly active
with promoting IT amongst young
females. A DigiGirlz Event saw the
participation of 80 girls on the STEM
programme whereas a mentoring event
held during BPW International Women
Day saw the participation of 1500 girls.
MBR: Can you give us some figures
registered by the MIC?
MD: Hosting and mentoring startups
has always been one of the main
missions of the Microsoft Innovation
Centre. Over the last year, the MIC
hosted 25 technology start-ups bringing
the total of start-ups hosted at the MIC
to over 160 since it started operating.
However, with all this success, the
Microsoft Innovation Centre remains
a work-in-progress as new clients and
partners are coming on board. There
is only one unifying aspect – the will
to deliver innovative ideas that bring a
positive impact on the community and
to Malta.
Start-ups wishing to find out more about
the MIC and what it offers may contact
Mary Downing at the Innovation Centre
on b-madown@microsoft.com MBR
Credit: Corporate Identities
www.maltabusinessreview.net
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