Urban areas are expected to swell to almost 5 billion people by 2030 with many of these urbanities being underprivileged, according to a study by the United Nations Population Fund. In preparation for this rapid growth, developing countries need to innovate now, a topic that a leading Microsoft executive will discuss at the VIII Americas Competitiveness Forum 2014, which will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, from October 8-10.
Mark Day, general manager of Government Industry, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft Corporation, will join business leaders and other innovative thinkers at the forum themed “The Human Imagination at Work: Driving Competitiveness, Powering Innovation.” In particular, Day’s presentation on the opening day will focus on the use of leading productivity and platform experiences with cloud and mobile solutions that can help both the public and private sectors accelerate their modernisation efforts.
“Technology plays a pivotal role in not only advancing economic growth but also in helping organisations bridge the gap between the global environment, their employees and their citizens and communities,” Day said. “Microsoft is focused on the development of ICT infrastructures, evident through our work with public and private sector organisations across the globe and here in Trinidad and Tobago. For example, we recently launched CityNext, an initiative to empower citizens, governments and businesses to shape a positive future for their cities, and we will open the first Microsoft Innovation Center in the English-speaking Caribbean.”
On October 6, Day will formally open the Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC), located at the CARIRI Centre for Enterprise Development in Freeport. Microsoft already has over 116 centres worldwide, including in major high-tech economies like Australia, Switzerland, Singapore and India. As in the various countries where MICs operate, the local centre will provide world-class resources and support for students, IT professionals, academic researchers, entrepreneurs and start-ups, accelerating the creation of new companies, jobs and growth of the local software ecosystem.
