Analysis of Microsoft's Spark plan to foster entrepreneurial and innovative enterprises

Innovation is the cornerstone of enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and maintain sustainable development. At the same time, the company also encourages local software companies to innovate and win together. Over the past year or so, Microsoft has launched or is launching a series of "Spark" programs to foster innovation, including a "Light Dream" program for college students (Dreamspark™), a start-up enterprise-supporting program (bizspark™), and websitespark™ programs for web design and development of small businesses, by providing technical assistance and encouraging students and small software companies to innovate. These plans and achievements once again confirm Microsoft's contribution to promoting local innovation and promoting the development of the local software industry.

Bizspark™ to boost the growth of pioneering enterprises

In November 2008, Microsoft launched the Start-up Enterprise Support Program (bizspark™), which aims to help start-ups with software development and Internet services to succeed quickly in early stages of development. It provides software (including development tools, platform technology, and server product licenses) and professional technical support for startups in a period of three years, and helps start-ups improve their visibility.

Companies participating in the Bizspark™ program need to be in the core business of software development and Internet services, with an annual income of less than 1 million U.S. dollars within three years. Through bizspark™, startups can easily access Microsoft development tools and server product production licenses, as well as technical support and promotion. Participating companies do not have to pay any upfront fees. Companies joining the Bizspark™ program will get up to 25 user licenses for the Visual Studio development Tools team, the MSDN Premium and expression Design tools, and Windows Server and SQL Server. In addition, each genuine authorized user of the company participating in the program also receives two technical support activities and has the opportunity to showcase their company through the Microsoft Global website bizspark™db.

The program was implemented in China for one year, with 27 partners joining, and nearly 1,300 startups successfully joining.

websitespark™ Foster web design and development of small businesses

In November 2009, Microsoft launched the Websitespark™ program to provide Web site design and developers with the Microsoft software and solutions needed for Web site development, as well as tools, training, and support to help their businesses succeed in the three-year period. The program helps drive new business opportunities by connecting Web professionals and hosting providers to the ecosystem of customers, partners, and other professionals with complementary technologies.

Companies participating in the websitespark™ program need to design and develop companies that do not have more than 25 employees across the company. There is no need to pay any fees for participating in the company. Companies joining the program will receive three visual studio®2008 professional user licenses, one Expression®studio User license, two expression®web user authorization, and three Windows Web server® 2008 User licenses, three SQL server®2008 Web user licenses, four Windows Web server®2008 Server Licensing, and four SQL server®2008 Web server Licensing. In addition, each genuine authorized user of the company participating in the program can also receive two technical support activities and websitespark™marketplace to showcase their opportunities through Microsoft Global Web App Gallery.

The program has just started in China, has attracted 2 partners to join, and has 200 web design and development companies are joining the program!

dreamspark™ encourage college students to innovate

In February 2008, Microsoft launched the "Light Dream Project" (dreamspark™), providing students with advanced development, design tools and server software, to inspire students ' dreams, technical and design skills, and encourage them to innovate.

Through the program, Microsoft offers professional-level software tools for Chinese university students to download, including four types of software: Visual Studio development tools and SQL Server databases, expression design tools, Windows Server,xna, and Windows Virtual PC, and allows Chinese university students to use the above software free of charge for students ' personal non-commercial teaching courses and scientific research purposes.

To date, Microsoft has provided nearly 300,000 free software downloads to Chinese students, and more than 200,000 students have benefited from the program.

Founded in 2003, the Microsoft Innovation Cup (Imagine cup™) competition provides a platform for young students worldwide to inspire the potential of technological innovation. On this platform, students from all over the world communicate and exchange their technological innovation experiences. At present, "Innovation Cup" has become the world's largest student science and technology competition. In 2009 alone, more than 300,000 students from more than 100 countries and regions participated in the competition.

Chinese students since 2004 to participate in the global "Innovation Cup" competition, has made remarkable achievements. Their outstanding performance has impressed the contest judges and national representatives. In 2009 alone, more than 30,000 students competed in China. The Chinese team has been one of the largest teams to enter the "Innovation Cup" global finals for two consecutive years. In the 2009 global Finals, the Chinese team won a total of three world second and one of the world's third best results. Up to now, through the "Innovation Cup" competition, Chinese students have created a cumulative total of about 80,000 applications.