Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition - focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. The competition encourages the world's most talented designers, programmers, developers, and technology enthusiasts to tackle - head on - issues related to: the fight against hunger, disaster relief, poverty, secure energy systems, education, disease control, healthcare, the environment, assisting people with disabilities, and many other critical problems.
Last year, over 358,000 students from 183 countries participated in the competition. For New Zealand, the 2011 competition was the most successful one to date - with over 300 team entries, 1,500 competitors and a total of 20 Finalist Teams competing at the 2011 Microsoft Imagine Cup Festival. Now it's your chance to step up to the challenge - so get your team together, and start changing the world. Find your team mates, and begin generating ideas to solve real world problems. Then narrow your scope to something that you can develop (and compete with!) on a global stage.
The theme for the 2012 competition is
"Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems" so, if you're up to the challenge, write up a
simple two-page project proposal. Don't worry if your idea isn't perfect or isn't polished - you will have the chance to connect with business and technology leaders that will enable you to develop not just your solutions, but also yourselves - providing you with skills and experience heavily demanded in the industry.
