1. Managing Innovation at Microsoft Research Roy Levin April 8, 2010

2. Outline The “what” and “why” of computing science research Microsoft Research: “why” and “how” Some research successes http://research.microsoft.com2

3. What is (Computing) Research? “Basic” vs. “Applied”? “Relevant” vs. “Blue-sky”? “Short-term” vs. “Long-term”? “Practical” vs. “Theoretical”?  There’s no simple definition! http://research.microsoft.com3

4. Research: Reward/Risk Researchers (and their management) must answer these questions: –How likely is it to succeed? [Risk] –If it does, will it have value for my organization? [Reward] How? How much? When? http://research.microsoft.com4

5. University Research http://research.microsoft.com Focus: Broad, government-supported, public-domain Determined by faculty/funding agency interest Education vehicle for students (perpetuate system) Success metric (reward): Publications Faculty reputation (tenure track decision) Needs in order to succeed: Funding agency approval 5

6. Small company research http://research.microsoft.com Focus: Short-term; bounded risk. Advanced development Success metric (reward): Artifacts transferred to product organizations Needs in order to succeed: Medium-term management support Close co-operation with receiving organizations 6

7. Big company research http://research.microsoft.com Focus: Long-term; varying breadth. Riskier than small company research. Costlier than university research. Success metric (reward): Enhance existing businesses; create new ones. Needs in order to succeed: Highly creative people Long-term management support Organizational stability 7

8. Challenges for Research (big company) Focus –long-term but relevant Payoff –big gains come infrequently and unpredictably IP: a two-edged sword –protective but can induce isolation Management commitment in hard times http://research.microsoft.com8

9. Challenges Managing Research Staying ahead (keeping enough risk) –the comfort zone –the competition Technology transfer (getting reward) –hazards are well known (Christensen; Moore) –eternal vigilance and creativity Metrics –Patents? Publications? Profit? http://research.microsoft.com9

10. Outline The “what” and “why” of computing science research Microsoft Research: “why” and “how” Some research successes http://research.microsoft.com10

11. MSR Labs at a Glance Lab LocationFoundedResearchers Redmond1991250 Cambridge (UK)1998125 Asia (Beijing)1999220 Silicon Valley200170 India (Bangalore)200550 New England200810 http://research.microsoft.com Omits other research-related groups totaling about 400 people and over 1000 interns. 11

12. Where We Sit http://research.microsoft.com Steve Ballmer CEO Steven Sinofsky Windows and Windows Live Division Bob Muglia Server and Tools DIvision Stephen Elop MS Business Division Robbie Bach Entertainment and Devices Division Qi Lu Online Services Division Craig Mundie Chief Research and Strategy Officer Rick Rashid SVP MSR Sales, marketing, and corporate functions (HR, Finance, Legal, etc.) are omitted. 12

13. Research Areas Broad spectrum, 50+ areas (see web site) –speech recognition, user interface research, programming tools and methodologies, distributed systems and networking, graphics, natural language processing, robotics, machine learning, databases, search, web interaction, search intent, security, information retrieval, … Driven by technology, not specific business needs –long-term and uncertain relevance, e.g., sensor nets, quantum computing, computing theory http://research.microsoft.com13

14. Research Areas Broad spectrum, 50+ areas (see web site) –speech recognition, user interface research, programming tools and methodologies, distributed systems and networking, graphics, natural language processing, robotics, machine learning, databases, search, web interaction, search intent, information retrieval, … Driven by technology, not specific business needs –short-term targets of opportunity, e.g., file systems for flash memory –long-term and uncertain relevance, e.g., sensor nets, quantum computing, computing theory

15. Our Mission (unchanged since 1991) Advance the state of the art. Bring advances quickly to Microsoft products and services. Ensure Microsoft products and services have a future. http://research.microsoft.com15

16. Why World-Wide? Talent availability University connections Geographically flavored work –natural language processing (Asia, Redmond) –networking (Asia, India) The next billion users http://research.microsoft.com16

17. Microsoft Research Norms Bottom-up –researchers create projects, not management Collaborative –within and across groups and labs, and externally Flat management structure –as much as possible, given lab sizes Open –most work presented publicly IP-based –patent protection routinely sought Publish “at the right time” http://research.microsoft.com17

18. Relationship to MS Businesses Historically, technology transfer is the research’s toughest problem. MSR-PM (program management) –The “connector-facilitators” A contact sport –geography can pose challenges –development in Redmond, SVC, Beijing, Hyderabad Tech Fest Building on past success –Most MS products affected Incubation IP Licensing http://research.microsoft.com18

19. More on Research Management http://research.microsoft.com Paper: A Perspective on Computing Research Management Available at http://research.microsoft.com/users/roylevin 19

20. Outline The “what” and “why” of computing science research Microsoft Research: “why” and “how” Some research successes http://research.microsoft.com20

21. Selected Technology Transfers Natural language processing –Office help system –Knowledge base automated translation Graphics –Windows Media –DirectX/Direct3D –Numerous effect technologies (Xbox) Web search –MSN core engine –Relevance ranking –Spam reduction –Intention/Tasks –Maps (routing) Large-scale spatial databases – Virtual Earth (Bing Maps) Machine learning – Drivatar (Forza Motorsport) – Filters in Outlook/Exchange (spam reduction) Software development tools – PREfix/PREfast (find security holes) – Static driver verifier New user interface paradigms – Microsoft Surface Data centers & cloud computing – Dryad/DryadLINQ massively data- parallel application paradigm – Storage infrastructure for Hotmail http://research.microsoft.com21

22. Focus Areas for MSR Silicon Valley Distributed Systems – e.g., Dryad Security and Privacy – e.g., differential privacy Web Search – e.g., Web spam Computer System Architecture – e.g., Beehive Computing Theory – e.g., shortest path routes http://research.microsoft.com22

23. http://research.microsoft.com