Microsoft has announced an ambitious new program which aims to put professional-level software and Internet development tools in the hands of students—for free. Dubbed “DreamSpark,” the offering will make Microsoft development and design tools available for download to more than 35 million college students in the U.S, UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, and (tellingly) China, and Microsoft plans to expand the program to as many as a billion students by including high school students next year.

“We want to do everything we can to equip a new generation of technology leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to harness the magic of software to improve lives, solve problems and catalyze economic growth,” said Microsoft founder Bill Gates, in a statement. “Microsoft DreamSpark provides professional-level tools that we hope will inspire students to explore the power of software and encourage them to forge the next wave of software-driven breakthroughs.”

Make that, “do everything we can to equip a new generation of technology leaders with Microsoft tools and skills.” Like Apple did two decades ago, part of the intent of Microsoft’s DreamSpark program is to get students using Microsoft tools and technologies while they’re still in school, and have them take those tools, technologies, and skill sets into enterprises and organizations when the students embark on their professional careers.

Microsoft development products available via DreamSpark include Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 Professional Editions, XNA Game Studio 2.0, SQL Server 2005 developer edition, Windows Server standard edition, and Microsoft Expression Studio, including Expression Web, Expression Blend, Expression Design, and Expression Media. Microsoft is also throwing in a 12-month free academic membership to the XNA Creators Club.