Snyder touts new Microsoft center

Southfield — Gov. Rick Snyder, a former computer-maker executive, Tuesday lauded Microsoft Corp.'s new Innovation Center here — one of nine in the country — as helping to spur technology and growth in the state. "I'm a nerd really," Snyder, the former CEO and president of Gateway Inc., said at a ceremonial opening of the center. "How could you not love being here? This is just fabulous."

The Research Center

The Research Center, built straightway to the company's Michigan headquarters, as well shows the company's regard for the state's future workers, said Drew Costakis, Microsoft's director of the innovation center. Student groups from Wayne State and Lawrence Tech universities already have used the center.

Microsoft begins by discussing strategies to deal with their customers' business challenges — from business productivity to unified communications and cloud computing.

"If we help our clients use our research and be successful," Costakis said, "ultimately, they'll do more business with us and our partners."