Futures Microsoft’s European Innovation Magazine Issue n°4 I June 2009 Computing and the environment: Tools to track threatened species Trust in digital life: Partnering for trustworthy ICT solutions The ultimate challenge? Modelling the human body Microsoft and the British Library: Meet the ‘extreme information user’ “ICT is the recovery” Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media 1 Colophon Content Editor in Chief Thaima Samman, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft Editorial Board Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman Europe, Microsoft I. INNOVATION POLICIES FOR EUROPE Lisa Boch-Andersen, Senior Director Communications Europe, Microsoft Andre Hagehülsmann, Innovation Manager Europe, Microsoft On the agenda: bridging the industry–university gap 4 Peter Wrobel, Editorial Director, Science|Business ICT – the way out of the economic crisis 6 Laura Bacci, Associate Director, APCO Worldwide Jerick Parrone, Communications Coordinator-Publications, Microsoft A call for global innovation 9 European Research Council: set for growth, says president 10 External Contributors Richard Hudson, Science|Business Nuala Moran, Science|Business II. COMPUTING AND THE ENVIRONMENT Peter Wrobel, Science|Business Mary Lisbeth D’Amico Putting computer science to work on biodiversity 12 Jean-Fabrice Delaye Green ICT: the industry must lead the way 16 Lori Fortig Violette Frescobaldi More intelligence on the streets 16 Christina Giles Small cameras that not only see, they watch! 19 Anna Jenkinson ‘Water Watch’ makes a splash with EU bathers Randolph Walerius 21 Production Quadrant Communications III. SECURITY AND PRIVACY B-9000 Gent Do you have trust in digital life? 22 Layout and Design Data sharing: it’s all a matter of context 24 sittingonacornflake.be The face in the crowd 26 B-9040 Gent Illustrations IV. COMPUTING FOR HEALTH Johan Raes The virtual physiological human: the search for computing’s supermodel 28 Printing Modelling in four dimensions 31 Roels Printing B-2500 Lier Your tissue samples are in the email 33 The wearable camera that brings back memories 34 Photography Marie-Paule Nègre Petra Jung V. PEOPLE AND PARTNERSHIPS Olivier Anbergen Paul O’Driscoll Going to extremes: the Research Information Centre 36 No constraints 39 Advertising INRIA, gateway to a complex but rich research system Microsoft 41 Searching questions 42 Contact details Optimising online services for thousands of different mobile phones 44 Microsoft Legal and Corporate Affairs - Europe Nerviërslaan / Avenue Des Nerviens 85 A helping had allows Hungarian firm to fund logistics project 46 B-1040 Brussels Windows Embedded collaborates with European business 47 www.microsoft.eu Circulation number / Frequency 2,500 copies / Bi-Annual publication VI. HELPING PEOPLE GAIN SKILLS FOR A CHANGING ECONOMY 49 Disclaimer The content of this magazine, including news, quotes, data and other VII. READY FOR INNOVATION 50 information, is provided by Microsoft and its third parties for your personal information only. Views imparted by third parties do not necessarily reflect the views of Microsoft Corporation. Copyright Microsoft 2009 Printed on FSC certified paper Preface Today’s global economic crisis does not take away the big challenges our society faces, such as diminishing natural and energy resources. Fortunately, ICT is a key part of innovative solutions to these challenges. As we show in this issue, Microsoft and our partners are aiding biodiversity in the cloud forests of Mexico, cutting down congestion in Zürich and enabling the development of energy-efficient cars, and much Commissioner Reding. And at the same time, as she more besides. “Here are whole industries waiting to be says, everything is directly related to individual citizens: developed,” European Commissioner for Information “When we speak about technology, actually we mean Society and Media Viviane Reding says. people”, improving the quality of their daily life, may ICT will also lead to fundamental transformations it be improved healthcare or the sustainability of our that will improve healthcare. Citizens, governments and natural environment. medical professionals are looking for novel solutions All the advances described in this issue are that provide safer and better care to more patients, in the result of long-term planning and long-term less time, and at less cost. commitment. The lesson for all of us is that even in such At Microsoft, we work with partners on technology challenging times, governments and businesses must solutions for every area of healthcare – from vision continue to invest in ICT and long-term innovation. systems for people with impaired memory to the computer modelling of whole organs. We have always been committed to investing in Jean-Philippe Courtois Europe. Today we employ around 2000 researchers and President, Microsoft International engineers to do R&D all across Europe, a number that is growing with our commitment to Europe. This issue of FUTURES will give a flavour of what those researchers are looking at and the results they are achieving – often working in partnership with industry and academia. From Oslo to Dublin, from Paris to Berlin, Microsoft is helping to transform the way we work and live. Technology empowers people, it empowers talent – this is the real chance technology offers, says On the agenda Bridging the industry-university gap The EU’s education commissioner, Ján Figel’, is pushing for change in European universities – to the economic benefit of all. By Richard L. Hudson There’s no mystery about it: many of the world’s most effort to push for better collaboration. He is establishing important innovations have come from good collaboration a regular EU Forum for University–Business Dialogue, between industry and university researchers. But in to share best practice, review university governance and Europe, that dialogue is often difficult. Now, as part of explore common European approaches to the problem. its efforts to revive economic growth, the European Compared to the US, the Commissioner said in an in- Commission has made fixing the relationship a top priority. terview, “we are a mosaic of different systems, different In April, Ján Figel’, the EU Commissioner for legislation. We need instruments eliminating obstacles” to Education, Training, Culture and Youth, announced a new better industry –university collaboration. 4 innovation policies for europe Ambassadors for innovation solving. And yet, somehow, according in tough times, he says. “The most to Commission forecasts, the EU will important message: this relationship Commissioner Figel’ has have to fill 12.5 million new, highly is a win–win situation.” n appointed Microsoft Interna- skilled jobs by 2015. tional President Jean-Philippe Courtois as an Ambassador But the Commissioner sees hope for of the European Year of change Avoiding the Creativity and Innovation The biggest issue, he says, is culture. economic pitfalls 2009, charged with helping “Everything starts with mentality.” to make sure that the year is In the past, he says, many European At a conference on university– industry relations that he organised a success. The 25 Ambassa- universities have viewed the world of earlier this year, Commissioner Ján dors reflect the full range of business with mistrust. “There has been a fear that collaborating with Figel’ summed up the rationale for creativity: from business and firms results in the loss of values in EU action: science to art, architecture education. But we have started to “We are now facing a very and philosophy. move away from that. Trust is growing. serious crisis of the finance sector, We are seeing an increasing commit- which is heavily impacting our On the agenda economy. The crisis carries two ment on both sides to work together,” major risks for our activities with it. Figel’ said. “First risk: That this squeeze on The extent of the problem is docu- The EU initiative starts with available resources might ‘motivate’ mented in Commission background suggestions to improve education – public authorities to reduce spen- papers for the initiative. In 12 out of especially entrepreneurial educa- Bridging the ding for education or research. This 16 economic indicators of innova- tion, “which is very weak in Europe,” would be a big mistake. Such deci- tion, such as patenting and scientific the Commissioner says. It goes on to sions would lead to a major capital publication, the US and Japan lead the examine the governance and fund- and knowledge destruction with very EU – creating what the Commission ing of universities (the US outspends industry-university gap negative effects for Europe’s growth calls an “innovation gap”. In entrepre- the EU by a margin of two-to-one on and employment prospects in the neurship – small business creation, higher education), the barriers to medium to longer term. funding and growth – most EU nations mobility of researchers between aca- Education, innovation and research lag far behind China, the US and other demia and industry, and other issues. play a crucial role for Europe, in major rivals. The Commission plans two or three particular in these difficult times. And, according to business additional meetings of the university– “Second risk: That in these surveys, European universities are industry forum this year, to discuss stormy times everybody will try to falling down on their most basic governance, SME policy, and the role find the best solution by and for him- task: training the new workforce. of university-business cooperation in self.