Microsoft brings together start-ups to offer solutions for smart cities

As part of its CityNext initiative, software major Microsoft has partnered the Telangana government and organised a Smart City Start-ups conclave in Hyderabad on Tuesday.

Microsoft CityNext is a people-first initiative to enable residents and city leaders to use technology to build a foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity. Microsoft has identified more than 40 solution areas across eight city domains, which include energy and water, buildings; infrastructure and planning, tansportation, public safety and justice, tourism, recreation and culture, education, health and social services and government administration, which help address 90 per cent of the challenges facing cities today.

"Around 21 startups, a combination of Microsoft Ventures' core portfolio and extended portfolio, participated in this bold step that the new Telangana state has taken, and launched a dialogue to quickly put smart city solutions on the ground,\" Ravi Narayan, director, Microsoft Ventures India, told Business Standard.

India's urban population is projected to grow from 340 million in 2008 to 590 million in 2030, according to a 2010 McKinsey and Microsoft study. By 2050, nearly 70 per cent of the global population will live in cities. Through its CityNext initiative, Microsoft India integrates information technology and human engagement to address infrastructural challenges and create new opportunities for economic growth and improved competitiveness overall.

"We are not going to leave this initiative at the networking level. We will help facilitate a consortium of startups to go through the tendering process (for smart cities), when called for,\" Narayan added.

"Developing smart cities is important to drive the state’s growth. With this focus, we are pleased to partner with Microsoft India to leverage its technology offerings and expertise to help transform Telangana into a sustainable and competitive state that cares for its citizens," said Telangana IT minister KT Rama Rao.

"Over the course of the next few months, we look forward to working with Microsoft and various startup partners, on solutions across areas that will help us keep the citizen at the centre of our development and fulfil our smart city vision," said Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary, Telangana government.