Imagine Cup 2009

Imagine Cup 2009 is the premier global student technology competition. Students are challenged to compete in finding ways to apply technology to solving some of the biggest problems faced by humanity today.

The next edition of Imagine Cup (IC 2009), the world's most talented students are challenged to "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today." This could mean finding creative and innovative ways to use technology to for example, to help a brother or sister get an education, find entirely new approaches for medicine, discover ways to counter the inequalities that exist between genders around the world, deliver universal primary education etc. The challenge is well articulated through the UN Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).

Students can make entries in categories ranging from Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, Algorithms and more.

Imagine Cup 2009 finals will be held in Egypt. Teams will advance through local and regional competitions with the best entries in the various areas eventually going for the finals in Egypt. The local competitions will feature local universities facing off and the best teams in each category making it to te regional competition. At the regional competition, students from different universities in the region who have qualified in their local regional competition will battle it out and eventually the winning teams will advance to the finals.

Winning teams at the finals will win prizes including cash prizes and a chance to carry their projects to the next level through Microsoft Innovation Accelerator program. Needless to say, teams which make it to the finals get great international exposure (including chances at internships, for example) and a great addition to the student's experience.

The more the entries made and the more diverse the entries (both within a category and across all categories), the better. You are therefore urged to encourage as many students as possible to form teams, register and participate. Teams are usually composed of 4 participants and a mentor. More details, including competition rules can be found on the Imagine Cup website here.