Microsoft signs MOU with government
“Microsoft aims to empower every person and every organisation on the planet to achieve more. And this is exactly what we are doing here, today, together, to empower every citizen and every organisation in Malta to achieve more.”
Peggy Antonakou said this, when the Government of Malta and Microsoft signed an important agreement focusing on several technologies including blockchain, artificial intelligence, internet of things aimed at supporting the strategic themes of the official announced National Digital Strategy in all three pillars, namely the Digital Citizen, the Digital Business and the Digital Government.
Antonakou said that Malta, a small country with a big digital vision, is putting again itself in the lead by embracing new technologies, investing strategically in a competitive advantage and translating this into economic growth and prosperity for its economy and its citizens.
“We understand that governments cannot do this alone. As a leading technology company, we recognise our responsibility in line with our mission, to work in partnership with governments and communities to drive economic and social prosperity and ensure everyone has access to the digital dividents of development and growth.
“Our presence in Malta, for the past 15 years was built on embracing and empowering exactly that. We continuously supported all aspects of Malta’s ICT eco-system, from the private to the public sector, from the education to the financial services. We were proud to support start-ups and education thanks to, and not only, our very own Innovation Centre, one of the only 40 we have around the globe, where we boast to have hosted more than 150 start-ups and 12,000 students teachers and professionals.
“Through this agreement Microsoft will promote and accelerate in Malta the worldwide programme of Microsoft for Startups through disruptive technologies. It's a 500m worldwide investment and our intent is to promote it heavily in cooperation with government. The main goal is to increase further the utilisation of the existing investment in the Microsoft Innovation Centre for the benefits of the local economy and society.
“Microsoft will also further increase the readiness and digital skills in the disruptive technologies through conferences and workshops. The company will invest in pilot innovative projects which will utilise disruptive tech- nologies in the public and private sector of Malta. In this investment as Microsoft we will contribute with the top of our specialists,” Antonakou said.
Reflecting on where the relation between the Government of Malta and Microsoft is today, Antonakou referred to an inspiring quote by Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, who in his book Hit Refresh writes that “our industry does not respect tradition. What it respects is innovation”.
She argued that the embracement of innovation was always at the centre of the agenda since the meeting which kicked off the discussions for this agreement in January, and just like it was over the past 15 years.
“When at the turn of the millenium Malta started its journey to become a regional centre of excellence, there was innovation at the core. That innovation earned the country the respect of many, but back then we were among the first, if not the first global company to commit ourselves. Fifteen years later, Malta is once again leading the way and we’re again here, in the same room where the first agreement was signed in 2003, ready to be by Malta’s side in its continous quest for digital leadership, by working together for a digital future.”