Microsoft shifts R&D for search engine technology to Norway
30 Sep 2008
Software giant Microsoft Corporation has decided to move its main centre for search engine technology to Norway. This was announced by Microsoft's Steve Ballmer in Oslo after a meeting with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
Prime Minister Stoltenberg said it is an important recognition of the Norwegian search technology environment.
"The global center for our enterprise search R&D will be done here from Norway and wants to become a major player in enterprise search technology,'' Ballmer told reporters after his meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister in Oslo.
Microsoft will hire 50 developers and researchers in the short-term over and above the 300 currently employed in Norway.
Microsoft had recently acquired Norwegian, 'Fast Search & Transfer', a specialty information technology company engaged in the development of real time search and filter technology solutions for content delivery as well as information and data retrieval for $1.2 billion. It has its operations in Europe, the U.S., Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
The acquisition was aimed at boosting Microsoft's search efforts and increasing its research and development presence in Europe and will now lock horns with Google for market share.
The center's main office will be in Oslo, with branch offices in Trondheim and Tromsoe.