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Microsoft Senior Vice President for Engineering Excellence Jon DeVaan joined local officials on Thursday, September 7, in hosting an open house to mark the launch of the Microsoft Innovation Center at Portland State University’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science.

The Microsoft Innovation Center is funded by Microsoft and a consortium of its Portland-based partners—Ascentium Corporation, Centerlogic, Inc. and Netdesk Corporation. The Center will provide a focal point for showcasing, developing and learning about technology created in Oregon. PSU and Microsoft believe the technology laboratory will become a key economic engine for software developers in the region and better position the state to attract and retain top engineering and computer science talent. This investment will help develop solutions to meet the needs of local government, education, non-profits and businesses.

“Technology, both as an industry and as a strategic business asset, has become the primary driver of the global economy,” said DeVaan.“Microsoft’s goal is to help communities like Portland be better positioned to influence the industry on a global basis and capitalize on the economic opportunities that it will create locally.”

The Center is a 750-square-foot lab that will provide a unique environment for engineering and information technology students at the Maseeh College to work directly with local Microsoft partners to push the boundaries of technology and become an ever greater influence on the global market. Microsoft and PSU also plan to open the innovation center to engineering and computer science students at other Oregon universities.

“Portland is already on the map when it comes to regions that are changing the way the world thinks about technology,” said Dean Robert D. Dryden. “By launching the Microsoft Innovation Center here at PSU, we are creating a facility enabling us not only to attract and retain the best talent here in Oregon, but also to facilitate the development of innovative new technology on the Microsoft platform.”

The Center’s debut project will be an education collaboration community that will allow administrators at academic institutions across the United States to access and share curriculum, content, programs and best practices, resulting in a collaborative learning approach to education that will save time and resources without “reinventing the wheel.” The Center will also serve as a forum for partners to interact with the technology community in the Portland area through educational seminars, technology association events and solutions showcases.

“We are excited by the potential opportunities for our partners and the entire community associated with the Microsoft Innovation Center” said James Beebe, chief executive officer of Ascentium Corporation. “Some will be independent software vendors, others may be hosting partners or partners specializing in Microsoft solutions for businesses, agencies and institutions. Regardless of its use, the lab is about gaining results so people can make better decisions, integrate with their supply chains and communicate with their customers, partners and employees more efficiently.”

Portland State University has an enrollment of over 25,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The University’s innovative approach to education combines academic rigor in the classroom with field-based experiences through internships and classroom projects with community partners. Portland State’s 47-acre downtown campus exhibits its commitment to sustainable practices, while many of its degree programs incorporate sustainability into the curriculum. PSU’s motto, “Let Knowledge Serve the City,” inspires the teaching and research of an accomplished faculty whose work and students span the globe.

Located in the heart of Oregon’s Silicon Forest, PSU’s Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science is uniquely positioned to deliver progressive engineering and computer science education. By teaming with regional industry and government, faculty members keep the curriculum current and prepare PSU students to make an immediate contribution to the workforce through participation in Senior Capstone design projects, internships and research opportunities. During the upcoming academic year, the Maseeh College expects a total enrollment of over 1,800 students in its undergraduate and graduate programs.

The Maseeh College consists of five departments: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Engineering and Technology Management; and Mechanical and Materials Engineering.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.