Students from around the world demonstrated their Imagine Cup technology solutions at the event showcase.

The Imagine Cup 2009 was held near the pyramids in Cairo.

The World Festival ceremony to announce the winners of the Imagine Cup 2009 Worldwide Finals was held at the base of the pyramids in Cairo.

Joe Wilson, senior director of Academic Initiatives at Microsoft, talked to students about the great honor of being selected as a finalist in the Imagine Cup 2009.

Amit Mital, corporate vice president for the Unlimited Potential Group at Microsoft, announced the winners of the Design for Development Award, team COSMIC from Malaysia.

Michael Golden, corporate vice president for the Education Products Group at Microsoft, announced the winners of the Photography competition, team Voodoo Delirium from Croatia.

Walid Abu-Hadba, corporate vice president for Developer & Platform Evangelism Division at Microsoft, announces the winner of the MashUp competition, team CURIOS from the United States.

S. Somasegar, senior vice president of the Developer Division, Microsoft, announced the winner of the Game Development competition, team LEVV It from Brazil.

S. Somasegar, senior vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft, announced the winner of the Embedded Development competition, team Wafree from South Korea

S. Somasegar, senior vice president of the Developer Division at Microsoft, announced the winners of the Software Design competition: First Place, SYTECH from Romania (center); Second Place, Vital Lab from Russia (left); and Third Place, Virtual Dreams from Brazil (right).

The winners of the Imagine Cup 2009 gathered on the stage for a final curtain call.

Four hundred forty-four students representing 70 countries attended the Imagine Cup 2009 Worldwide Finals.

Amit Mital and esteemed judges Dr. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Nick Hughes, Kentaro Toyama and Ed Granger-Happ participated in the Microsoft Unlimited Potential roundtable to discuss how relevant, affordable and accessible technology can help underserved people around the world.

Game Development finalists for the Imagine Cup 2009: United States, Epsylon Games; United Kingdom, Sanguine Labs; and Brazil, Levv IT (left to right).

Software Design finalists for the Imagine Cup 2009: Poland, Demoscene Spirit; Spain, LADP Development; Taiwan, Tech-Volunteers; Brazil, Virtual Dreams; Romania, SYTECH; and Russia, Vital Lab (left to right).

Embedded Development finalists for the Imagine Cup 2009: USA, PARV; Korea, Wafree; Mexico, Brainy Brownie; Turkey, AST; Ukraine, Intellectronics; and China, iSee (left to right).

Participants in the Imagine Cup 2009 demonstrate software solutions to help solve the world’s toughest problems.

Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft Corp., demos student technology solutions.

Team Trailblazers from India demo their MultiPoint software solution.

Joe Wilson, Ray Ozzie, Devin de Vries and Ed Granger-Happ participate in the opening press conference.

Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft Corp., and Devin de Vries, former Imagine Cup participant, discuss the important role students can play to inspire innovation in the technology community.

Ed Granger-Happ, chief technology officer at Save the Children, provides insight on how technology innovation and creative ideas from students are helping to connect communities around the world.

Karim Ramadan, general manager of Microsoft Egypt, welcomes students from around the world to the 2009 Imagine Cup.

Ali Faramawy, area vice president, Microsoft Middle East and Africa, hosts the opening ceremony.

Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft Corp., talks to students about how they can shape the future through technology, innovation, and creativity.

Students from Brazil lead the parade of competitors at the Citadel.

A total of 444 students representing 70 countries and regions converge at the Citadel for the opening ceremony of the 2009 Imagine Cup.

Over 124 teams will compete in the Imagine Cup 2009 Worldwide Finals.

Dr. Tarek Mohamed Kamel, minister in the Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Technology in Egypt, welcomes the Imagine Cup 2009 competitors to the Citadel.

Ray Ozzie, chief software architect at Microsoft Corp., provides insight to participants about his own experience as a young student programmer.

Joe Wilson, senior director of Academic Initiatives at Microsoft, connects with students while discussing the opportunity to use technology to help solve the world’s toughest problems.