Microsoft partners with NTEC to Foster software innovation in Kuwait

Together NTEC and Microsoft will work to create a favorable environment for the growing software and IT sector in Kuwait and strive to strengthen the business and technology economy. The Microsoft Innovation Centre (MIC) in Kuwait City will be established to improve the local software economy through the provision of consistent and comprehensive support to IT graduates in Kuwait, as well as higher education students, entrepreneurs, start-ups, Independent Software Vendors (ISVs),local governments and businesses. Programs offered include those dedicated to business and technical skills development and industry partnerships.

Commenting on this partnership, Dr. Adnan Al-Sultan, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of NTEC said: "NTEC was created to play a role in servicing major stakeholders in Kuwait with their technology needs - Microsoft is a vital partner in this goal.; The services and programs offered at the MIC will not only help grow the local software economy in Kuwait, but also drive innovation - a fundamental component to the economic and sustainable growth of the country."
This partnership was part of ongoing efforts and collaboration between NTEC and Microsoft to scale up the Kuwaiti software skills, it also proves Microsoft's commitment to Kuwait.

"The potential for growth and innovation in the software industry in Kuwait is vast" said Charbel Fakhoury, General Manager of Microsoft Gulf. "The creation of future growth and economic development is a mission that Microsoft globally is dedicated to and the MIC in Kuwait is a strong testament to this. It is a facility that enables collaboration on technology and software solutions between local government, academics and the IT industry as a whole - fostering an atmosphere within which innovation thrives and potential is realized."

Microsoft Kuwait also sponsored NTEC's Technology Incubator Center last June as part of its commitment to the Local Software Economy initiative.

The IT community in Kuwait will benefit from a variety of programs at the MIC delivered in the following groups:
• Skills Accelerator: designed to help participants develop both business and technical skills. It includes courses on software development, market development and employment programs for students
• Partnership Accelerator: the MIC fosters partnerships between academia, the industry and Microsoft. These include industry clusters and support for student-led research programs
• Innovation Accelerator: development of innovation through hands-on lab access and applications scalability and availability testing.