Contraste Europe has been hosting developers of the Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) for several years. This collaboration allows the realization of Proof of Concept from innovative ideas. This is a great success for the development of the company, a collaboration that will be extended. 

The Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) is a non-profit organization based in Brussels. It is a private-public partnership between the Brussels Region and private partners such as Microsoft. Its objective is to support the development of the IT sector in the Brussels Region, with a focus on SaaS and information technologies. 

The objective of the MIC Prototyping Program is to support IT companies by helping them develop a Proof of Concept (PoC) through collaboration with student interns. The program lasts 15 weeks during which they spend 3 days a week in the company and 2 days at MIC, where they receive additional supervision and participate in workshops. As explained Grégoire Malvoisin (Contrast Digital Presales & Marketing Officer), "In MIC, trainees have access to experts who will allow them to move very quickly on very specific topics." 

This partnership makes it possible to carry out projects that would not have been for lack of time or resources. Contraste was able to test ideas and benefit from real agility. "During the internship, objectives and deliverables are clearly identified. This allows Contraste to quickly produce developments and turn ideas into Proof of Concept, "says Grégoire Malvoisin. 

This year, Contraste welcomed 3 MIC trainees with the aim of designing a PoC in the field of IoT. The project consisted in developing a web application to configure and display the data collected via Raspberry Pi(es), plugged into offices. They manage a variety of sensors, including temperature or motion, and their data can be viewed through a dashboard. 

The young developers, selected by the MIC, bring a new vision. Contraste Europe's collaboration with the MIC therefore contributes to creating a favorable context for IT innovation, an applied and effective innovation linked to business opportunities. According to Grégoire Malvoisin, "The program of the MIC really contributes to the innovation lever of Contraste" 

At MIC Brussels, the trainee is in regular contact with Microsoft experts, but he also receives additional technical training and has the opportunity to validate his skills by passing Microsoft certifications. 

"All of this gives Contraste the chance to work with developers who are improving every day, and it's a great opportunity to recruit new IT talent." Many MIC interns will then win a job offer. "This partnership is a success for both the company and the trainees," concludes Grégoire Malvoisin. 

Discover the benefits of the MIC prototyping program in video :