Your career in Bill Gate's hands - what could be better? 
Posted on 02/02/2005 2:13:01 PM PST by anymouse
PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates on Wednesday launched an initiative to accelerate innovation in science and computing in Europe.
Speaking to journalists in Prague, Gates said the EuroScience Initiative will bring together talented people from universities and research centers all over Europe.
"Software has become a key tool for many types of research," Gates said.
The initiative also wants to support the Lisbon Strategy, a plan to make Europe the world's most competitive economy by 2010. Within the strategy, EU governments are expected to boost research and development spending, cut bureaucracy and social spending and increase education spending.
As part of the EuroScience Initiative, Microsoft plans to invest in a network of centers tied to key research institutions in Europe.
The first of these is a center for Computational and Systems Biology, a joint venture between Microsoft, the Italian government and the University of Trento, in which the software giant has a 40 percent stake.
A memorandum of understanding was signed by Gates and Italian Minister of Education Letizia Moratti in Prague Wednesday.
It was not immediately clear which other centers will follow, but Gates said the program will not be limited to Western Europe.
"We're sure there are great universities in the new (EU member) countries as well," he said.
The question is whether it is in the US's best interest for MS to boost the EU's computer research this way?
Of course for the truely cynical, one could ask if it is in the EU's best interest to let MS "help" in their computer research. ;)
Gates is a trader. He bragged about how he leveraged his fortune to short the dollar last week during his visit to europe. Nice guy.
Apparently this is the bribery price Gates is willing to pay the EU in their anti-comptitition extortion ploy.
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You nailed it. Billy has never been known to do things like this unless he had to. Quid pro quo is in play here. Billy has his national loyalty a bit askew as well. This will not sit well at home.
Oh well.
Bill Gates is part of the new breed of globalist corporatist. His primary loyalty is to his company and its profit. It's the inevitable effect of free trade, global flows of capital and efforts at uniform regulation in wide trading blocs.
Probably it's a bribe. Also, it's insurance. What he's probably thinking is that IF Europe succeeds in this venture and becomes the new Silicon Valley, then he wants to have an inside track on it. If it doesn't, what's a few million down the drain?
Gates has done that often. If he loses some money, so what? If the venture takes off, then he's a partner instead of a rival.
It's a marketing expense. Makes sense to me.
Microsoft exporting technology ping!
I see no problem with spreading American capitalism to all four corners of the globe.
Your career in Bill Gate's hands - what could be better?
I know. I was mainly trying to tweak GE a little there. :) I personally have no issue with it either.
but but but... I thought Bill gates loved america unlike those Linux communist... How can this be?
You nailed it. Billy has never been known to do things like this unless he had to. Quid pro quo is in play here. Billy has his national loyalty a bit askew as well. This will not sit well at home.
Evidently, you haven't dealt with Kneepad Microserfs.
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Thank God I haven't (chuckle)
A Freudian slip perhaps? :)
I think you mean "traitor."
I have no real issue with Microsoft or other US tech companies working with our European allies, to strengthen relationships.
What I do have a problem with, is when our businesses work with our enemies, such as with the Nazi's during world war 2, or who give advanced software away to anyone in the world including our adversaries via free downloads 24/7. Or when foreign businesses, or the products of our potential enemies start stealing market share away from us. I don't see how any of those issues are at stake with this deal, at all. I hope it does well.
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