Microsoft sees little changes to R&D budget

* Expects little change to R&D budget from $9 bln in 2009

* Sees opportunities in healthcare, education, energy

* Expects good "uptake" rate on Microsoft Office 2010

(Adds more comments)

By Harry Suhartono

SINGAPORE, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O), the world's largest software company, does not big changes to its research and development budget for next year from more than $9 billion it committed this year, a senior executive said.

Craig Mundie, Microsoft's chief research and strategy officer told Reuters in an interview the company sees some greenfield opportunities in healthcare, education, and energy, where information technologies could help address problems.

"The company remains very committed with R&D... I think it will be nominally the same, I'm not expecting any big changes," Mundie said on Thursday in Microsoft's office in Singapore, overlooking the Marina Bay business district.