UPDATE: Microsoft launches Africa Development sites in Lagos and Nairobi.
Microsoft corporation marks yet another milestone of investments and operations in Africa. In an event later today the global technology company will announce its first Development Centre in Africa. Its seventh globally. The Africa Development Centre will have two initial sites set to be located in Nigeria and Kenya. The global technology giant says it will be a long term investment in the region.
Yesterday, top Microsoft executives paid a courtesy call on the President of Kenya. Where they shared details of the project with the president. The executives shared that Microsoft plans to invest a combined expected investment of US $100 million over the first five years of operation.
Microsoft says through the Africa Development Centre it intends to invest in more cutting-edge solutions suitable for the region and the rest of the world.
Stay with us as we bring you more details about the Africa Development Centre launch event in Nairobi. What are you thoughts on this, share them with us.
An area of focus in Microsoft’s research is Agriculture. Microsoft research scientists are focusing on unleashing the future of agriculture using data driven techniques called precision farming. The process involves using broadband connectivity through TV whitespaces, connected to IoT sensors that enable data driven farming. These data when collected over time will help farmers improve their yields and lower costs. This initiative from Microsoft is called FarmBeats.
Piloting FarmBeats in Africa
Microsoft is expanding the pilot program of FarmBeats to Africa, starting in Kenya. The program in Nairobi will be focused on addressing the specific challenges of farming in Africa with the intent of expanding to other African countries.
Data-driven digital agriculture
FarmBeats
“AI doesn’t replace human knowledge; it augments it“
Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO says “AI doesn’t replace human knowledge, it augments it. Talking about Microsoft FarmBeats initiative he shares that “Data from low-cost sensors in soil and drones with machine learning algorithms work with farmers’ knowledge and intuition to help them gather and parse data about their farms. Informing what, when, and where to plant in order to drive the highest-possible yields and reduce costs”.
Microsoft FarmBeats will help farmers benefit from technology innovation at the edge. Microsoft says although technology could help the farmer, its adoption is limited. This is majorly due to farms not having power, Internet connectivity on the farms and farmers not technology savvy.
To address this Microsoft says “We are working towards an end-to-end approach. From sensors to the cloud, to solve the problem. As part of the FarmBeats project, we are building several unique solutions to solve these problems using low-cost sensors, drones and vision and machine learning algorithms“.
Bill Gates visited a pilot site and shares his experience in the video below.
If you are a student, there is a Student Kit that will help you learn about precision agriculture.
Now on Azure Marketplace
Microsoft releases FarmBeats on the Azure Marketplace to help farmers with low-cost agtech solutions. Azure FarmBeats in the Azure marketplace will be a business-to-business offering. Offered at no additional charge and users will only pay for the Azure resources used. It will include a Datahub. (An API layer that enables aggregation, normalization, and contextualization of various agriculture datasets across providers). As well as an Accelerator. (A sample solution, built on top of Datahub, that jumpstarts your UI and model development).
Windows Insider? Participate in the Windows Insiders Insiders2Campus contest and win a trip to participate in Microsoft 2019 Hackathon.
Like last year Microsoft is inviting 10 Windows Insiders to its Redmond campus. This year will be different. Apart from the campus tour, winners will get to participate in the Microsoft 2019 Hackathon.
The invitation reads;
For the first time ever, we’re inviting a select group of fans to join us at Microsoft headquarters for our global Hackathon, where full-time employees and interns gather to celebrate products and hear from Microsoft leaders—including CEO Satya Nadella
Tell us about your passion for solving challenges with your personal superpowers, whether you harness the power of design, project management, coding, or another area of expertise. You could win a trip to campus this July 22-25 to participate in Hackathon 2019, enjoy exclusive tours, and meet Microsoft leaders. You’ll hack alongside Microsoft employees for an amazing four days of collaboration, creativity, and problem solving.
Here’s How to participate in the contest
To qualify for the contest and be eligible;
You must be a registered Windows Insiders. (register here)
Submit a link to a video in which you describe why you should be selected to participate in the Microsoft Insiders2Campus 2019 Hackathon. (Only one entry)
Microsoft will give the Egypt startup technical and business support in new partnership.
Digital recruitment solutions company HireHunt announces partnership with Microsoft. The collaboration through Microsoft 4Afrika will see HireHunt recieve leads from Microsoft’s network. Microsoft will also provide them with technical and go-to market resources.
Sherif Aziz, Partners and Start-ups Lead, Microsoft 4Afrika said this about the collaboration.
“As we strive with our customers towards digital transformation, HireHunt makes that possible on a recruitment level. A clear example of how technology can enable companies to hunt for the best most suitable talents. Microsoft 4Afrika is very excited to partner with HireHunt where we will support them on both technical and business level.”
About the Startup
HireHunt is a digital recruitment solution startup based in Egypt bringing the right employers and talents together. Providing a talent platform where applicants showcase their skills, expertise and personalities through interactive job applications.
For employers the platform handles the time consuming tasks faster, so they can focus on filling positions with higher accuracy. With their mantra “Do less, hire faster”.
How HireHunt works.
“On HireHunt, applicants can show who they are and what they can do by answering interesting questions about themselves and their work experience to attract the attention of employers. Questions can be answered by text or recording voice. You can solve games to earn badges and get more visibility from positive interactions with employers. Every interaction gives them feedback about their capabilities. Helps them explore new career paths and discover their next opportunity at the same time. Employers now have access to a ‘swiss army knife of recruitment technology’ to help them hire the right people faster. Using Artificial Intelligence and interactive screening, high-growth companies can cut up to 80% of their hiring time by automating the dull parts of sourcing, screening and tracking so they can focus on what’s important. 82% of employers identify their next hire within 2 weeks using our sourcing campaigns powered by machine learning.”
Microsoft and United Arab Emirates Education Ministry reach an agreement to upskill its workforce in AI and Data Science.
Microsoft and the United Arab Emirates Education Ministry have reached an agreement. The agreement will see Microsoft support the education ministry in its vision to upskill its workforce. The UAE’s ministry has a strategic objective to develop the skills of its employees in the latest technological trends. Microsoft will achieve this through the Microsoft Learning Partners Program.
Anthony Salcito, Microsoft VP, Worldwide Education and His Excellency Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, UAE Minister of Education signed the agreement at Bett MEA 2019. (A gathering of education leaders from across the Middle East and Africa)
Microsoft says “under the terms of the agreement, Microsoft will support the ministry in its vision for upskilling its workforce in line with the latest technological trends through its Microsoft Learning Partners Program. The Ministry engineers will undergo various training tracks selected from the areas of data science, artificial intelligence, big data and others.”
Speaking about the partnership His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi said;
“As part of its strategic objectives, the Ministry is working continuously to develop the skills of its employees in line with the latest global trends related to IT, AI and Cybersecurity. The focal areas related to the future and the associated skills must be mastered.”
“This partnership with the Ministry of Education will bolster the talents of its employees. Empowering them to make a difference and deliver real value across the UAE education sector for years to come.” said Microsoft’s Anthony Salcito.
Microsoft at Bett MEA 2019
As worldwide partners of BETT MEA 2019, Microsoft presented the Future of Learning keynote during the Leadership Summit session. Presenting various Microsoft solutions with customer testimonials to leaders at the event. Microsoft introduced the mordern class room interaction using Office 365, Azure cloud serice for research, Microsoft Hacking STEM and Minecraft for education.
Microsoft also delivered content and industry insights at the workshop sessions. Sharing on Leveraging future-ready skills and eploayability solutions for student sucess and Future of work.
Microsoft also shared the expo center with its innovative partners. Allowing educators and decision makes at the event to experience future ready education tools and solutions. Some Microsoft education partners at the event included ITWorkx Educztion, Classsera Inc., Nexquare, Computer 4 Kids, and Jawraa.
