Microsoft needs more brainiacs to fill its developer ranks, so it's going
North to nurture them.
The software giant said it plans to expand its presence in Canada by
opening a new software development center in the greater Vancouver, British
Columbia, area. Doors are slated to open this fall, and it will house software
developers from around the world.
The announcement comes at a time when Microsoft is facing a shortage of
developers, and after the U.S. Senate recently ended
debate on an immigration reform bill that would have included provisions for
allowing more special visas for tech workers. Microsoft bemoaned the move.
The H1-B visas allow U.S. companies to sponsor foreign-born U.S.
graduates in science, engineering and math for up to six years of U.S.
employment. Tech executives and lobbyists insist an increase in H1-B visas
is necessary to fill what it claims is a chronic shortfall in American IT
talent.
"The nation continues to witness a dramatic decline in the number of
native-born computer science graduates," Pamela Passman, Microsoft's vice
president for global corporate affairs, said in a statement sent to
internetnews.com just after the Senate ended debate on the bill.
"Technology companies like Microsoft rely on the H-1B visa and
employment-based green card programs to deliver an adequate supply of highly
qualified employees to help maintain our competitive position."
On to Canada. The company said the Microsoft Canada Development Centre
will operate as one of a handful of development centers outside its
Redmond, Washington headquarters. Other sites are in North Carolina, Ireland, Denmark and Israel.
In a statement announcing the expansion, S. Somasegar, corporate vice
president of the Developer Division at Microsoft, said the company's goal is
to attract the next generation of leading software developers from all parts
of the world. "This center will be a beacon for some of that talent."
Phil Sorgen, president of Microsoft Canada, said the region has
"burgeoning high-tech and software industries and a globally envied quality
of life, and our cities represent exactly the kind of environment that
leading information workers want to live in. "This center will help Microsoft remain globally competitive while providing strong economic benefits to British Columbia and Canada."
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Microsoft: North to Canada