Houston, Microsoft Announce High-Tech Partnership

HOUSTON, TX — With an ever-increasing world of technology and the demand to stay on top of what's new, the City of Houston has partnered with Microsoft to create the nation's first “Internet of Things” alliance. The partnership will aim toward technological innovation and digital literacy. It will be a grass-roots program that delves into local education in communities around town

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner held a press conference Friday morning to boast about the alliance between the technology giant and the nation's fourth-largest city. Turner called it "another exciting day in Houston."

“Microsoft is doing so because of the ambitious goal we set for Houston to grow technology and innovation as its next economic frontier,” said Turner, who went on to say Houston has pioneered other Herculean efforts like energy, medicine, space exploration and the port.

The Houston-Microsoft alliance will adopt five communities where there will be a focus on giving people the skills needed to develop careers in a digital world.

A representative from Microsoft will focus on the four pillars of STEM education — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — to give them equal footing in related digital education.

The plan entails economic advancements for Houston as well.

Friday’s announcement comes on the heels of last month’s announcement that the 1938 Sears Building in Midtown will serve as an innovation hub involving its landlord, Rice University, and the city’s other major colleges and universities, as well as large and small businesses.

Turner said the Texas Medical Center will create a TMC3 campus, where huge medical and learning institutions will combine for the very first time to create the world’s finest bio-med research center

Additionally, the Flatiron School, a computer academy, is opening in downtown Houston and offering scholarships in cooperation with Facebook and the Houston Urban League.

At Interstate 10 and the Beltway, the new $150 million Founders District will give Houston bragging rights for hosting on its 30 acres the world’s largest co-working and startup incubator space, to be called “The Cannon.”

“If you remember from my State of the City speech this week, I said we didn’t get Amazon, so we’ll make our own,” Turner said.

Microsoft will teach computer literacy to parents, veterans and/or workers transitioning careers, hosting 4 “DigiCamps” for 200-400 young people, it’ll work against gender stereotypes by hosting DigiGirlz Camp, and provide software, support and visibility to local tech startups.

Microsoft will work with Houston on SmartCity Initiatives and provide data bank muscle for a Harvey relief volunteer program called Houston Still Needs You. The tech giant will also will adopt one or more middle schools or high schools in the 5 community neighborhoods and focus some of its computer literacy power on that school. It will teach computer literacy to parents, veterans and workers transitioning careers

"I am thrilled to have Microsoft working with us in the city of Houston," Turner said. "It just doesn't get any better."

Image: A logo sits illuminated outside the Microsoft pavilion on the opening day of the World Mobile Congress at the Fira Gran Via Complex on February 22, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. The annual Mobile World Congress hosts some of the world's largest communications companies, with many unveiling their latest phones and wearables gadgets. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)