During a stop in Bangalore on the final leg of his India trip Friday, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced a nationwide talent hunt in India to identify India’s best student technologists.
The “Code 4 Bill” contest is aimed at graduate students across the country pursuing various technical fields. The best of the participants will get an opportunity to work directly with Bill Gates Technical Assistants team for a year.
India is the first country where students will get this opportunity to learn about cutting-edge product development and innovations affecting the world by working directly with Microsoft's Product Development and Research teams.
Mr. Gates said the rationale of Code 4 Bill was to develop native talent in India.
“Talent is what powers the success of the global IT economy today,” he said. “Indian students are setting high standards in the industry. It’s very important for India to maintain this edge, and continue to nurture and develop its students so they can drive India’s progress as an IT leader.”
Talent is what powers the success of the global IT economy today,” he said. “Indian students are setting high standards in the industry. It’s very important for India to maintain this edge, and continue to nurture and develop its students so they can drive India’s progress as an IT leader.”
The Bangalore visit came two days after Mr. Gates said the Redmond software giant would invest $1.7 billion in India over the next four years (see Gates Invests $1.7B in India). The company plans to set up a venture fund and hire another 3,000 employees in addition to the 4,000 it already employs in India.
Shares of Microsoft were up $0.08 to $27.77 in recent trading.
Application Preview
In front of a 5,000-strong audience, Mr. Gates showcased Microsoft’s new applications platform comprising SQL Server 2005, Visual Studio 2005, and BizTalk Server 2006.
Several companies in India told the audience about their early adopter experiences with the Microsoft Application Platform.
HCL, Infosys, NIIT, Pacsoft, Polaris, Ramco, Satyam, Skelta, Sonata, and TCS have been working with the platform over the past year. The companies plan to introduce products and services based on the platform.
Mr. Gates also said that five major training companies in India—including NIIT, Karrox, IIHT (Indian Institute of Hardware Technology), STG Chennai, and New Horizons—are ready to roll out training courses for these technologies.
In addition, Microsoft said it would train 100 system integrators in the country, and reach out to more than 100,000 developers through e-learning courses for these products.
In his six-hour visit to the city, Mr. Gates inaugurated a swanky new Microsoft India facility equipped with world-class infrastructure.