June 21 - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) on Wednesday introduced a new computing service aimed at helping chemical companies speed up the research and development of new materials. Azure Quantum Elements, as the service is called, relies on computing power to help chemical companies simulate huge numbers of possible combinations of atoms. In a press release, Microsoft said that the system has helped some early customers speed up their development processes by as much as six months. Microsoft said that BASF (BASFn.DE), AkzoNobel (AKZO.AS), AspenTech, Johnson Matthey (JMAT.L), SCGC and 1910 Genetics have been testing the system. Microsoft said it was also publishing a scientific paper on the milestone but gave few other details ahead of its announcement.

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Persons: Johnson Matthey, Satya Nadella, Stephen Nellis, Kim Coghill Organizations: Microsoft Corp, Microsoft, BASF, Thomson Locations: San Francisco