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Zurich, Switzerland, 18 June 2008—From
July 2 to 4, IBM’s Zurich Research Lab hosted this year’s
Best Student Recognition Event for 74 top students from 23 European
countries. Organized annually by IBM in Europe since 2003, this
event gives students an opportunity to get a glimpse of IBM’s
areas of business, its strategy and broad spectrum of research,
as well as a chance to meet and network with peers.
“Gain insights, exchange ideas, share the excitement and
get involved!” was the motto of this year’s Best Student
Recognition Event (BSRE), which brought some of Europe’s
brightest young minds to IBM’s Zurich Research Laboratory.
Most of the participants are Master’s-level students in the
fields of computer science, various engineering disciplines, or
business administration. The aim of the three-day event was to
enhance students’ interest in information technology and
its implications, and to nurture creative thinking for opportunities
in business and society. “The scope and pace of innovation
in IT remain unparalleled,” states Dr. Liba Svobodova, Program
Manager for University Relations at ZRL and host of the BSRE at
the Zurich Lab. “At IBM Research, we are truly at the forefront
of IT and its broad applications. By giving students a glimpse
of who we are and what we do, we want to share the excitement we
feel about our company and industry, and we especially want
to encourage young talents to address new opportunities and challenges.”
During the various sessions, participants were given an overview
of the focal research topics pursued at the IBM Zurich Research
Lab, including nanotechnology for future chip technologies, advanced
computer system design, business optimization, security and privacy,
as well as “green” technologies. At a lively barbeque
held afterwards on the Zurich Lab’s leafy campus, participants
had a chance to talk to current student interns and graduate students
about the various possibilities available throughout IBM Research.
The program included an afternoon at IBM’s headquarters for
Northeast Europe in Zurich, providing participants with an
overview of IBM’s strategy and areas of business.
The event left a positive impression on participants, who responded
with enthusiastic feedback. One Russian student called the event “bright
and significant” and remarked, “I have never had an
experience like this. It was really beneficial to me.” A
student from the UK, speaking for many participants, found it “very
informative and well organized”. “This was a great
opportunity to get to know people, fellow students as well as IBMers,” a
Dutch student told us.
All in all, it was a unique day and an unforgettable experience
for the participants. Summing it up, a student from France said
it best: “This event is an excellent idea. Everything was
great! I feel really enriched.”
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Participants
of the 2008 Best Student Recognition Event at IBM’s Zurich
Research Lab.
