IIIT gets Rs 117 m from Microsoft

BANGALORE: International Institute of Information and Technology (IIIT), Hyderabad today announced that it has received a grant of US $250,000 from Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. to aid research in the area of Information Technology. This grant will be used to set up a Microsoft Chair at IIIT, and is an deliverable of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Microsoft India and IIIT earlier. Professor V Umapathi Reddy, professor and currently Chief Technology Officer in an IT Services Organization, has been selected for the Chair and will undertake research in the area of Wireless Communications for a period of five years.

Commenting on the Grant by Microsoft Dr. Rajeev Sangal, Director, International Institute of Information and Technology, Hyderabad said, 'IIIT Hyderabad is a unique institution that links education to industry needs, and research to innovative products of the future. This grant will strengthen our relationship with Microsoft and help us go further in our endeavors.'

Commenting on the Microsoft Chair at IIIT Hyderabad Mr. Rajiv Kaul, Managing Director, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. said, 'We believe that information technology has a unique role to play in accelerating the rate of innovation and research. This grant to IIIT is in perfect sync with our belief and will contribute significantly towards boosting research initiatives in the country.'

The MoU with IIIT is part of Microsoft's University Relations Program aimed at facilitating interaction and collaboration between Microsoft Research and educational institutes across the world. Over the last two years through the University Relations Program, Microsoft has worked with 12 institutes in India.