Japan Service Science. Yuriko Sawatani, Fellow, Service Science, Management and Engineering, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) recently provided me with an update on JST’s approach to developing a theory of service systems as well as improved service system implementations.  Many proposals are currently being evaluated for funding.

Aligning universities, cities, and IBM to promote skills and entrepreneurship in India: IBM India announced 75 new university-based software skills Centres of Excellence in sixty cities across India.   “Apart from providing free training, certification and software to these colleges, IBM plans to convert the CoEs into incubation centres to bolster software skills and ensure industry-ready professionals,” Himanshu Goyal, Country Manager – Academic Initiative, Developer Works and Globalisation, IBM India/South Asia, said.  The IBM CoEs are aimed at creating a platform for the development of software skills among students and gives students the opportunity to develop business solutions.  In addition to setting up CoEs, IBM also plans to bring its Global Entrepreneurship Initiative (GEI) to some of these colleges. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6076257.cms Some of these students are likely to want to participate in the 10X Innovation Award competition (https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/university/innovation/x10.html)  or the Analytics Innovation Awards (https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/university/innovation/index.html#analytics).   (for those who like energetic Indian music and the history of IBM in India – I recommend the following video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QB3ePgS909E).