On behalf of Microsoft Research, welcome to the Web site for the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit 2005, which was held on July 18–19, 2005 at the Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, Washington.

About the Conference
The Microsoft Research Faculty Summit provides a unique opportunity for faculty members and Microsoft researchers, architects, and executives to collectively discuss a vision for the future of computing. It is an exciting event that explores how Microsoft and academic researchers can team up to help develop the breakthroughs that will define the future of software computing in this decade. Because academia is driven by research and limitless imagination, academic institutions worldwide are at the forefront of software innovation. Together, we can pursue new research frontiers that will transform computing and create a better future.

See how we’re currently collaborating with the academic research community (view the presentation).

Computing: The Next Decade
This year’s Faculty Summit was titled “Computing: The Next Decade” and focused on the research and technical challenges in areas such as security, mobility, software engineering, languages, human-computer interaction, embedded computing, eScience, and technologies for education. Panels, presentations, and discussions at the conference addressed subjects such as pervasive computing and resulting novel applications. This included mobile devices, human-computer interaction, sensor networks, and robotics. In addition, we collectively discussed technological advances in languages, compilers, and embedded systems. And, throughout all topics, we considered how systems can become trustworthy—which includes security, reliability, and privacy.

For details on each day’s events, see Agenda July 18 and Agenda July 19.

We’ve organized break-out sessions by technology themes. Use the key below to see which technology theme was featured in each conference room.

The brown bag lunch sessions provided an opportunity for discussion and networking. They’re designed to be less formal than the break-out sessions and cover cross-technology subjects, such as gender equity, university and industry collaborations, and the Microsoft Research New Faculty Fellowship Program, with an emphasis on audience participation and discussion.

The wide variety of projects supported by Microsoft Research were displayed in the Grand hallway of the conference center.

Published Attendee Information
To view the published attendee list, visit the Faculty Summit Registration site.

External Research & Programs
Technology is the driving force in the global economy, and innovation is the lifeblood of the technology industry. In particular, innovation in computing continues to yield dramatic productivity benefits to individuals and organizations. Academia is at the heart of this innovation engine. The higher education research community advances the state of the art in computing and creates the talent that drives innovation.

The Microsoft Research Faculty Summit is hosted by the External Research & Programs group (formerly the University Relations group). As an integral part of Microsoft Research, the External Research & Programs group collaborates with academia and governmental agencies worldwide to advance the state of the art in computing and nurture the next generation of computing professionals. This is accomplished through a host of programs.

Every year, the group announces several requests for proposals to engage with researchers around specific technologies. The Faculty Summit is an example of bringing together academic thought leaders in the field. The group facilitates collaboration between universities and Microsoft Research, including setting up joint research institutes. It also sponsors several professional organizations and academic conferences. Since talent and creativity are what drives the computing industry, the group invests in the cultivation of the next generation of leadership through PhD fellowships and programs, such as the New Faculty Fellowship Program, which recognizes early-career faculty of outstanding promise.