Microsoft mulls building 2nd innovation center in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - In its effort to develop the local software development in the country, IT giant Microsoft Philippines may establish its second Innovation Center in Cebu.

“We want to explore first what we can do here in Cebu. We are having conversations [with stakeholders] what we need to be doing here,” said Microsoft Philippines managing director John Bessey.

Aside from its number of programs in partnership with Department of Education, and the Commission of Higher Education (Ched), Bessey said the company is also looking at possibilities to put up an Innovation Center in Cebu, just like similar facility it opened in Manila last year in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP).

“There are a lot of ways we can impact the education concern in the Philippines especially in producing quality of graduates,” Bassey said.

For one he said Microsoft is on its active stance to improve the software design capabilities among young Filipinos, in order to maximize their talents.

With its partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Bassey said Microsoft is making sure that graduates of IT courses leave the university with “right level of IT education.”

In May of last year, Microsoft Philippines established the Innovation Center or software research and development hub in UP Diliman as part of efforts to propel the local software economy.

Bassey said there is a possibility that Microsoft will be establishing similar facility here in the near future, specifically that Cebu is positioning as an Innovation Island.

Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) in Manila is a facility for academe and industry collaboration on innovative research on technology and software solutions.

The MIC will also serve as a launching pad for more Microsoft initiatives that promote growth in the industry and open up new opportunities for individuals and Filipino businesses. Examples are DreamSpark and BizSpark, which provides students and SMEs free Microsoft software to help jumpstart careers and businesses.