One of the hallmarks of Microsoft Research Cambridge during its 10-year history has been its engagements with the European research community on a number of collaborative efforts to extend the state of the art of computer science.

“We play a strong leadership role in the European and the U.K. technical community,” says Andrew Herbert, Microsoft distinguished engineer and managing director of the Cambridge lab, “as measured by memberships on influential bodies and by the people who want our opinion and who want to work with us.”

Some of the more notable collaborations in which Microsoft Research Cambridge has participated include:

• The Microsoft Research-University of Trento Centre for Computational and Systems Biology: Microsoft and the Italian government have been collaborating since 2005 to give new impetus to research in Italy through important investments directed toward the creation of a cutting-edge science and technology center of excellence in research and innovation, in partnership with the University of Trento and the Provincia Autonoma di Trento.
• The Microsoft Research-INRIA Joint Centre: Founded with the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique, the French national research institute for computer science and applied mathematics, the center’s objective is to pursue fundamental, long-term research in formal methods, software security, and the application of computer-science research to science.
• Towards 2020 Science: A report representing the findings of an international expert group that gathered in the summer of 2005 to define and produce a new vision and road map of the evolution, challenges, and potential of computer science and computing in scientific research over the ensuing 15 years.
• IP Ventures: Microsoft IP Ventures licensed some of the Cambridge lab’s peer-to-peer technology to a young company called Skinkers, in return for an equity stake and royalty share. The technology is being used by Skinkers in two scenarios: enabling enterprises to push important messages and content to employees’ computer screens and for real-time television-program distribution over the Internet. Microsoft Research Cambridge maintains a close link with the company through a joint “technical advisory group” and an observer seat on Skinkers’ board.
• Internal collaborations: Microsoft Research Cambridge enjoys close, productive relationships with a number of fellow groups within Microsoft, such as Technical Computing, Live Labs, and the European Microsoft Innovation Centre.
• Research Partnership Programme: A collaboration between Microsoft researchers and Microsoft teams in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa region to ensure that research experience and innovative academic thinking is embraced in groundbreaking projects by Microsoft customers and partners.

“Microsoft technology can only progress if we understand the long-term aspirations of our customers,” says Natasa Milic-Frayling, Microsoft Research Cambridge senior researcher. “When our researchers engage with the innovators inside these companies and partner organizations, we gain early insight into fundamental research issues. At the same time, we impart our knowledge and the spirit of exploration and pursuit that encourages further innovation.”