Microsoft Offers R&D to Small Companies, Startups Areas include gaming, databases, multimedia, and security, among others. Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service Wednesday, May 04, 2005 Microsoft said today that it has opened up a library of technologies developed by its R&D teams to small companies and startup companies. Under the program, called Microsoft IP Ventures, the Redmond, Washington, software maker will license technologies to such companies to help them develop new products and services, Microsoft said in a statement. Microsoft is offering licenses for technology related to gaming, databases, multimedia, and security, among others. Microsoft Portrait is one technology that the company has made available. Portrait, a video communication technology, can run on wired or wireless networks at bandwidths as low as 9.6 kilobits per second, according to Microsoft. At low bandwidths, the technology allows smooth video transmission with short latency and low computational overhead, the company said. A complete list of the available technologies can be found online. A Cut of the Pie Microsoft IP Ventures aims to make the licensing of these technologies accessible to small companies by accepting payment either through royalties or via a stake in the company, Microsoft said. Microsoft said that it had decided to introduce the IP Ventures program in response to demand from venture capitalists for access to the company's library of technologies. As an example of what the program is meant to accomplish, Microsoft cited Inrix, a small U.S. company that has been issued an exclusive license to develop a predictive, real-time technology for distributing up-to-the minute traffic information. Inrix plans to include the technology in a nationwide service for service providers, device manufacturers, and Web sites, Microsoft said. Terms of that licensing agreement were not disclosed.