Microsoft, DENR Announce Kickoff to Imagine Cup 2008, World’s Premier Student Technology Competition

Global competition invites students to apply technology and artistic talents to tackle sustainable environmental issues.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Microsoft Philippines formally presented Imagine Cup 2008 and encouraged students and non-government organizations (NGOs) to unite in tapping technology to address local and global environmental issues.

Now in its sixth year, Imagine Cup continues to challenge students around the globe to imagine a better world empowered by technology and created by their talent and innovation. Microsoft recently opened registration for Imagine Cup 2008, extending an invitation to the most talented students from all over the world to embark on the challenge to “Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment."

“We recognize the immense potential of students and their ability to bring about positive change. Each year, we come across hundreds of projects, all showing how technology can help people,” said Tim Vergel de Dios, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Philippines. ”The Imagine Cup allows students to expand their world and shape the future. Through this competition, Microsoft is driving innovation that is responsive to the needs of the planet.”

Students will compete in nine categories spanning software design and games development to challenges involving algorithms and programming. Students’ work will reflect valuable solutions that give a helping hand to the world’s sustainable environmental issues while giving them the opportunity to compete for generous cash prizes.

Microsoft is calling on young programmers, artists and technologists around the world to bring their ideas to life in nine categories, each catering to a different talent. The Technology Solutions categories such as Software Design, Embedded Development, and Game Development categories challenge students to utilize their creativity to develop practical solutions.

Project Hoshimi, IT Challenge, and Algorithm, under Skills Challenges, highlight the speed and proficiency of teams in creating programs. The ability of teams to communicate ideas in original ways is tested in the Photography, Short Film, and Interface Design categories.

In the Philippines, each team will be paired with an environmental NGO, who will guide the team as it works on the project, by identifying the organization’s needs and the kind of program that could help them perform their tasks more efficiently.

With the assistance of the DENR, Microsoft has tapped environmental NGOs interested in banking on technology for empowerment, to collaborate with the teams in designing and conceptualizing their entry.

“We are inspired to see the youth become interested and involved with caring for the environment because they are our hope for the future,” said Demetrio Ignacio Jr., Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). “Technology is an important aspect of environmental protection and sustainable development. We are very happy to be involved in this initiative and we thank Microsoft. We hope that through this, we will discover young minds and develop technologies that will help people cope with environmental problems.”

According to Vergel de Dios, regardless of how the teams place in the competition, their partner NGOs will be able to utilize the programs developed for them. “The Imagine Cup is not just an opportunity for the students to present their talents. It is also a chance for them to contribute to the efforts being taken to preserve our environment.”

Lisa Antonio, Executive Director, Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE) enlightened students on the numerous applications they could develop for the Imagine Cup. “There is a whole range of NGOs that the teams can work with. Common to all are the challenges that we face: limited resources, organizational efficiency, standardization, efficient networking, and sustainability. There is a lot of work to be done and this can be best accomplished with appropriate technologies, including information technology (IT),” said Antonio.

“Imagine Cup links creative minds with environmental NGOs to develop tools that will enable us to do our work more effectively, if ever sustainable development will become a reality. We look forward to the fruits of this exciting endeavor,” she added.

After advancing through the online, local and regional Imagine Cup competitions, qualifying students are scheduled to convene at the world championships in July 2008 in Paris, France, to present their entries to a panel of judges from academia and the technology industry. The finalists will be selected, and a worldwide winner from each category will be announced. Prizes for Imagine Cup 2008 will total more than $180,000 (U.S.) across the nine categories.

Those interested in participating in Imagine Cup 2007 or seeking additional information can visit http://www.imaginecup.com to register and review full entry requirements for each invitational.

Photo above shows Jay Joson, Developer Platform Evangelist Director, Microsoft Philippines (third from right) and Demetrio Ignacio Jr., Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (fourth from right) joining hands to signify a united effort for the Imagine Cup. The presentation was witnessed by (left to right) Joanna Rodriguez, National Technology Officer, Microsoft Philippines, Tim Vergel de Dios, Academic Developer Evangelist, Microsoft Philippines, and Lisa Antonio, Executive Director, Philippine Business for the Environment (PBE).