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Microsoft Imagine Cup 2008 Finals tracks Tomorrow's Technology Leaders
By siliconindia
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Tuesday, 08 July 2008, 19:30 IST
Paris: To unlock the students' creative genius and create technology solutions that can help address some of the worlds toughest social challenges, competition for 370 students from 61 countries and regions began on July 3rd competing for $240,000 in prize money at the Imagine Cup 2008.
Founded by Microsoft in 2003, the focus for Imagine Cup 2008, is on building technology solutions that help address challenging environmental sustainability issues. From a pool of over 200,000 participants, 124 teams have been selected to represent their countries in Paris for a week of competition around their innovative technology solutions. These student-developed solutions range from improving access to clean water, reducing pollution and carbon emissions to achieving sustainable cities and reducing demand on energy.
"Imagine Cup inspires these students to address the worlds challenges in new ways and deliver innovative technology solutions that can truly change the world for the better," said Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International.
Students and teams compete in the worldwide Imagine Cup finals across nine categories: Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, 'Project Hoshimi' (Programming Battle), IT Challenge, Algorithm, Photography, Short Film and Interface Design. Individual students and teams are in the final stages of a yearlong competition and will undertake a series of onsite challenges relating to technology and digital media depending on the category. The winners will be announced tomorrow, as part of the Imagine Cup World Festival closing ceremonies.
"For me, the Imagine Cup was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore the power of software, make new friends from around the globe who share my passion for innovation and technology, and leverage the event as a starting point for my career," said Vincent Bellet, a finalist from Imagine Cup 2006. "After the Imagine Cup final, I received more than 50 job offers from different companies. To win the French finals and to be a worldwide finalist for a competition sponsored by Microsoft has been a great plus on my resume."
In coordination with Imagine Cup, Microsoft, together with INSEAD, the Women in IT forum and the European Schoolnet, will be hosting a high-level round table to raise awareness of and direct policy attention to the need for promoting greater participation of young women in technology and science studies.
Sponsors for the Imagine Cup 2008 finals include Air France, Avanade, BT, Dassault Systemes, HP, Novotel, Paramount Pictures and Quiksilver.
