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BANGALORE: Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. has announced a unique program targeted at the Indian software start-ups to help them build world class software products and solutions, providing impetus to the development of the local software ecosystem.

Announced at the "India Is Innovation" summit, hosted by Microsoft on 18^th and 19^th April, in Bangalore, this program is a continuation of the strategy set in place with the Microsoft Innovation Center, launched during Mr. Bill Gates visit in December 2005.

The summit served as a meeting ground for representatives of the local software ecosystem - software entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, academic incubation heads, software industry bodies, researchers and analysts. More than 150 Indian companies participated in the event, to engage in discussions around how they can be a part of the global product opportunity. Venture Capitalists and Academic Incubators talked about their role in catalyzing the local software economy.

Under the 'India is Innovation' program participants get access to software, technology guidance, and suggestions on improving product development processes, a software business management course and visibility through the Innovation booklet. It provides startups with end-to-end tools to become commercially successful and enables transformation of Ideas to Intellectual Property (IP).

Other offerings include idea validation; building the product - Technology Mentoring and tools to develop quality and robust products; product planning and architecture; managing a product company - ranges from a course in software business management to the Microsoft ISV Quality Program; go-to-market and Venture Capitalist introductions - Integration with Microsoft sales teams & product groups and showcasing at 'India is Innovation' event.

At The Summit, Microsoft also launched an Innovation booklet, a collection of 27 unique case studies of successful products developed by Indian ISVs over the last few years. Some of featured products include: InSite 2005 from Aurigo Software, Wasp'3D from Beehive Systems, Whizible EPM from Compulink and the Skelta Workflow Accelerator from Skelta Software.

Microsoft has tied up with like The Indus Entrepreuners association (TiE) and their Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program, to foster entrepreneurship within the Indian technological community.

Commenting on 'India is Innovation Summit', Mr. Ravi Venkatesan, Chairman, Microsoft India said, "At Microsoft we are deeply conscious of our responsibility to help grow the local software economy and to help Indian software companies move up the value chain. We hope that initiatives such as these, not only create greater respect for IPR creation among Indian companies, but also serve as an impetus to helping them create IP out of great ideas, and realize their true potential."