Microsoft Hyd Centre plans to file 70 more patents

Microsoft India Development Centre (MIDC) is betting big on its Hyderabad operations.

In 2005-06, it is planning to file applications for 70 patents for various projects that are underway at its centre. MIDC filed for 40 patents in 2004-05.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Srini Koppolu, managing director of MIDC, said, "The teams at MIDC will be filing for an additional 70 patents in the current fiscal as compared to 40 in the previous fiscal."

MIDC is working on various projects ranging from data protection manager, office mobile to visual studio and office live meeting.

The 2,60,000-sq ft Microsoft India Development Centre currently employs 500 people, and according to Koppolu, the centre is always looking out for the best talent available in the industry.

"Although we have not set a target for increasing our employee-strength, all the heads of various teams at our centre are constantly hiring people from across the country," he added.

"Our India development centre plays an important role in contributing to future innovations at Microsoft. Going forward, there will be increased focus on generation of new ideas and cutting-edge technology. We want to leverage our position in India and play a leadership role in future," Koppolu said.

"The Hyderabad centre is the second biggest centre of Microsoft outside Redmond. In fact, India is one of the few countries outside the US where Microsoft has its own campus. At this centre, we will continue to grow not only in numbers but also in driving multiple businesses that are of strategic importance to various product lines of Microsoft," he added.