Google to fund University of Cambridge Computer Lab

Google is set to invest $5.7m in a dozen university research projects. The 12 projects will take place at 10 different universities and will involve 31 professors.

The sole non-US university is the University of Cambridge. Their computer lab will be funded for its Computing for the Future of the Planet research. The exact amount given is unknown, but it is said to be several hundred thousand dollars.

Google’s investment focuses on areas it believes are of interest to the research community as well as itself. Half the projects are related to energy efficiency with other studies focusing on machine learning; mobile phone use for data collection with regards to public health and the environment; and privacy.

The Cambridge research is primarily privacy-related and this will be a key consideration for Google who have increasing volumes of data on their users.

The project could also link the search engine leader with potential future employees. Technology companies have long invested in university studies, but this is Google’s first move down that path.

Ironically, the Cambridge research will be taking place in the William Gates Building, which was named following a sizeable donation from Bill Gates.