Microsoft has entered into partnerships with three Australian research organisations as part of its Global Cloud Research Engagement Initiative.

National ICT Australia (NICTA), The Australian National University (ANU), and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) are the benefactors of the deal that gives researchers access to advanced client plus cloud computing resources and technical support.

Each grant will provide researchers supported by the organisations with three years of free access to Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud computing platform. They’ll also get technical support and client tools being developed by Microsoft.

“We are seeing a dramatic shift in how the power of the cloud can empower researchers. With access to the Windows Azure platform, scientists around the world can tap into increased computing power with their own familiar desktop tools to more easily explore and share their complex research,” said Dr. Dennis Gannon, Director of the eXtreme Computing Group at Microsoft.

The supported projects will explore a range of topics, including the analysis of online social networks, a cloud-based geophysical imaging platform, computational chemistry and other e-science applications.

Gannon continued, “The grants being distributed through this global initiative will make powerful, simple cloud computing tools available to researchers worldwide, empowering diverse communities of academics and scientists whose work ultimately benefits all of us.”