BEIJING, China, October 24, 2006--- Microsoft Research Asia today opened the 8th annual "Computing in the 21st Century" Conference jointly with the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Tsinghua University. World renowned scientists will discuss and exchange ideas about the latest development and challenges in computing research, particularly in software, in front of more than 3,000 university students, teachers and researchers.

Themed "The Challenge of Quality Software", the conference features a group of high profile keynote speakers including Rick Rashid, Microsoft Senior Vice President, Research; Andrew Chi-Chih Yao, Professor of Center for Advanced Study, Tsinghua University and 2000 Turing Award recipient and 2000 Turing Award recipient; Jim Gray,
Technical Fellow, Microsoft Research Silicon Valley and 1998 Turing Award recipient; Niklaus Wirth, Professor Emeritus, Computer Science of Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and 1984 Turing Award recipient and 1984 Turing Award; Eric Grimson, Bernard Gordon Professor of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Department Head of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Pat Hanrahan, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Stanford University; Ed Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair, Computer Science & Engineering of University of Washington; and Harry Shum, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia.

They will review the history of computing and software engineering and examine the future and technologies that will shape the next decade. The topics will be involved in modern theory, novel methods, big ideas, new applications and challenges in computing science.

"The next decade of advances in computer science will be far more significant and far more interesting than the past decade, particularly with the impacts of the internet and 'software as service' on research," said Harry Shum, Managing Director of Microsoft Research Asia. "Through the annual 21st Century Computing Conference, we hope to provide a unique opportunity for Chinese students, teachers and researchers to learn from world class scientists and get up to date with the latest research rends and results, so as to foster local talents and promote local innovation."

Shum said that computer systems and services are becoming increasingly complex, presenting new challenges to assuring reliability, predictability and security. The whole industry, from basic research to product development, should work together for the purpose of developing and releasing quality software.

He put forward six potential new directions for "Research 2.0" and described and demonstrated some recent progress made at Microsoft Research Asia in each of these areas:
1. The Web as a research platform;
2. Leveraging community effect;
3. Data centric computing;
4. The need of deployment driven research;
5. Infrastructure is crucial;
6. The variation of multi-disciplinary research.

Microsoft Research Asia has an excellent track record for building mutually beneficial partnerships with universities and academia in China, Asia and the world. The 21st Century Computing Conference was originated Microsoft Research Asia in a bid to promote high-level academic exchanges and collaboration between scholars and researchers from China and around the world. It has demonstrated Microsoft Research Asia's long-term commitment to contributing to China's local IT industry.

Microsoft Research celebrates its 15th anniversary this year. Beyond its influence on a broad range of Microsoft product innovations, Microsoft Research also enhances the overall IT ecosystem through a variety of academic programs. Microsoft Research collaborates with academia to create greater opportunities to pursue research in a variety of disciplines from search to robotics, from bioinformatics to gaming technologies. Microsoft Research and leading universities across the globe are continually working together to advance the state of the art of computing.