Microsoft announced plans to establish its first cloud datacenter region in Taiwan.
Microsoft will also make significant investment in local talent and development with the goal to provide digital skilling for over 200,000 people in Taiwan by 2024.
Microsoft is growing its Taiwan Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure engineering group, which will establish Microsoft Taiwan as a hub in Asia for innovation in designing and building advanced cloud software and hardware infrastructure spanning AI, IoT and edge solutions.
Microsoft has already made investments in Taiwan, including the IoT Innovation Center, AI Research and Development Center, Startup Accelerator and the IoT Center of Excellence.
According to a recent IDC study, Microsoft, its ecosystem and cloud customers together will generate more than $10 billion in new revenue and will add over 30,000 jobs to the Taiwan economy over the next four years.
“With Taiwan’s expertise in hardware manufacturing and the new datacenter region, we look forward to greater transformation, advancing what is possible with 5G, AI and IoT capabilities spanning the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge,” said Jean-Phillippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations.
At launch, the new region will deliver Microsoft Azure first with Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Power Platform services to follow.
Microsoft will help customers to store data at rest in Taiwan and over 90 compliance certifications to meet a range of industry and regulatory entity standards, under Taiwan’s executive branch of government, the Executive Yuan.
Local companies including Acer, ASUS, Chunghwa Telecom, Delta Electronics, FarEasTone Telecommunications, TECO Electric & Machinery, Trend Micro, Taiwan Mobile and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company are some of the main customers of Microsoft.
Microsoft plans to upskill over 200,000 people in Taiwan over the next four years, providing digital skills acquisition programs for youth, non-profits, startups and enterprises. This builds on Microsoft’s investment in local skilling programs for students, including internship programs, STEM Education, and Coding Angels.
Microsoft will continue working with non-profit organizations including the Build the Future, Eden Social Welfare Associate, Taipei Orphan Foundation and Taiwan Fund for Children and Families to reskill social workers.
Microsoft plans to upskill business leaders, entrepreneurs, and C-level executives through the AI Business School program. Microsoft is working with industry associations to launch a series of re-skilling workshops for women, including mothers returning to the workplace.
