Tech breakthroughs to come from Asia: Gates

BOAO: Future technology breakthroughs will increasingly come from Asia, Microsoft Corp Chairman Bill Gates said, adding that research being done at the software giant's regional development centers was among the best in the world.

Gates' comments come at the end of a visit to China yesterday during which he announced several new ventures, including USD 3 software packages for government-subsidised student computers.

In a speech to a regional economic forum in southern China, Gates said Americans were increasingly expecting Asia to produce major new leaps in computers and other technology, citing in part the region's strong showing in engineering and the sciences.

"And so not only is Asia benefiting from the uses of new technology, Asia will increasingly be the source of advances in technology," Gates told participants at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia, a gathering of business leaders and politicians modeled on the World Economic Forum held each winter in Davos, Switzerland.

Gates said Microsoft has been gratified by the results of its Asian research and development centres and was planning to expand campuses in Beijing and Shanghai.

"The results and the quality of the work is absolutely among the best in the world," Gates said.

Gates repeated calls made earlier in his visit for greater investments in technology to improve health care and education, saying all students would soon be equipped with super powerful tablet computers no bigger than a piece of notebook paper.