Microsoft picks Miami for 1st US innovation center

Microsoft is opening a state-of-the-art training facility in Miami, its first within the United States.

The tech giant plans to announce details Friday. Microsoft already has some 100 innovation centers in 80 countries worldwide.

It's working with city and county officials to open the project later this spring. It will be housed at the downtown entrepreneurial institute Venture Hive.

The center will offer its tech-related services to local startups, governments, students and faculty.

A Microsoft vice president, Sanket Akerkar, told The Associated Press the center aims to provide resources and technology to help spur economic development, collaboration and learning.

The announcement comes as investors, startups and global companies descend on Miami for the new eMerge America Techweek conference, part of a broad effort to promote technology and innovation in the region.