by Joao Bilhim
On the 7th March, INESC and Microsoft signed a new Protocol of Cooperation. The two organizations have been working successfully together since the first such agreement was signed in November 1992. The new arrangement concerns R&D for Windows NT; Computer Assisted Learning Activities; and spreading and encouraging the use of Information Technologies. Essentially, the scope of the collaboration has been broadened and expanded into new areas.
The session began with a presentation on the Protocol by Professor Alves Marques. Rodrigo Costa (President of Microsoft Portugal) then spoke on Microsoft's development activities and involvement in Portugal, stressing the company's concern to have the largest possible number of value added services in the country. Bernard Vergnes (President of Microsoft Europe) spoke, in contrast, in general terms on the challenges facing Microsoft and the company's strategy for the next few years.
Professor Alves Marques subsequently described INESC's global strategic context with a view to renewing its approach to the market. Finally Professor Jose Tribolet spoke on the National Distance Training Programme based on multimedia technology which is currently under preparation.
Before the signing of the Protocol, Dr. Manuel Sequeira, an INESC researcher, talked on Windows NT based research projects. He presented his R&D project on the behaviour of distributed applications with respect to the hierarchical organization of NT memories, informed by his recent stay in the Microsoft Advanced Research Centre.
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