Microsoft uses evangelism to promote R&D

Microsoft Research is taking the evagelising route to popularise the idea that research is indeed a good career option and that it pays to be a good researcher.

Microsoft Research Labs which was set up in Bangalore an year ago to work on a broad range of computer science subjects, has initiated measures to inculcate research aptitude in top science universities in India.

The lab has initiated a first-of-its-kind series of Microsoft Research Summer Schools to advance the art of research and in specific to computer science education. With this, the labs also intends to build up a good pipeline of researchers for its own works.

The research summer schools, which will be an yearly affair, will help participants learn from international experts and network with the global research community.

The summer schools will introduce students and young researchers to important new areas and results which are not covered usually in textbooks nor covered in academic institutions' regular syllabii.

The lab is kicking off this exercise at the Indian Institute of Science's Mathematics Initiative (IMI) focussing on algorithms, complexity and cryptography. The programme will be held between May 22 and June 10.

Said P Anandan, MD, Microsoft Research Lab India: "There is a severe shortage of researchers in India and this is an attempt to bridge that gap. There is good supply of technical graduates who do good software work in India. We need to take a couple of steps more to inculcate the idea of research in the mindsets of people and peers here and we hope the exercise bears fruit eventually."