Brier Dudley Ballmer went to Europe bearing good tidings

Tag : bearing news

From the news release, headlined "Microsoft Announces ContinuedInvestment in European Research and Development":
"By increasing its existing investments and tapping into the bestand brightest engineers in Europe, Microsoft expects to fostergrowth and innovation for both the partner community and theEuropean knowledge economy."
Microsoft said it already employs a lot of people in Europe —more there than any other region outside the U.S., including 2,000researchers and engineers. So much for India and China getting allthe jobs.
In case anyone missed the headline, the news release used the words"invest" and "investment" 11 times.
"Every year, Microsoft invests more than $600 million (U.S.) inresearch and development in Europe, and this investment isgrowing," it noted.
Overjoyed politicians were quoted, including José ManuelBarroso, president of the European Commission, which has been atMicrosoft's throat.
"The public sector can make a real contribution, but only inpartnership with the private sector. That's why I am delighted towelcome Microsoft's decision to open new R&D facilities inthree member states," he said in the release.
"For such a key global player as Microsoft to increase its R&Dinvestments so substantially is a real vote of confidence in Europeand in European research excellence."
France's minister of finance, Christine Lagarde, also cheered.
"Microsoft's decision to create an important R&D centrededicated to search in Europe, with a strong presence in France, isa first which we salute," she said in the release. "This is goodnews for the European Union, which decided long ago, with theLisbon strategy, to go down the road of the knowledge-basedeconomy."
With the global economy suffering and Europe counting on technologyto drive future growth, regulators couldn't possibly keep thebrakes on a supportive partner like Microsoft, now, could they?
At the very least, Microsoft will be on the minds of Europeanleaders convening next week during a big council meeting wherethey'll discuss improving financial stability.
Microsoft is also on the minds of people around here, especiallyafter Friday's disclosure that the company may trim hiring becauseof the downturn. Ballmer still has a bunch of new buildings to fillin Redmond.
Brier Dudley's column appears Mondays. Reach him at 206-515-5687 or bdudley@seattletimes.com .