Ready to start something BIG?

Zurich, Switzerland, and Moscow, Russia, 11 Sept 2007—Today, at the Moscow State Technical University n.a. N.E. Bauman (MSTU), Matthias Kaiserswerth, Director of IBM Research - Zurich announced the "Great Minds" initiative. The program offers students from across Central and Eastern Europe, the chance to compete to win an internship at IBM Research - Zurich, the European branch of IBM Research.

The initiative aims at promoting exceptional young and skilled students in computer science by giving them the unique opportunity to work alongside IBM researchers at one of the world's premier industrial IT research organizations.

"We want to know what the brightest minds in these countries see as the most interesting and challenging problems in the IT industry in the coming years and what great new ideas they have that may advance IT and spur innovation," said Matthias Kaiserswerth, Director of IBM Research - Zurich at the event.

The program is open to all students who are enrolled full-time in a college or university Master program in one of the participating Eastern European countries, including Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Romania. They need to be nominated by a faculty member, and an expert committee will review the nominations. The top three will be invited to the Zurich lab for a summer internship. IBM would especially like to encourage women to participate. The winners of the internship will receive travel expenses to and from Zurich as well as accommodation and an internship allowance.

"Great minds and great ideas are what is driving innovation in the IT industry. With this initiative we would like to reach out to the next generation of innovators and tap into the outstanding research talent in this part of Europe," says Kaiserswerth.

More information on the "Great Minds" initiative and how students and faculties can participate can be found here.