“We deeply believe that tomorrow’s innovators will come from the dorm room, not the boardroom.”
That is a quote from Microsoft’s general manager of Education
Strategy, Jon Perera. For eight years now, Microsoft has sponsored the
worldwide Imagine Cup,
a technology competition for high school and college students around
the world. This year’s theme is, “Imagine a world where technology helps
solve the world’s toughest problems.” Students work in teams to compete
in a number of broad categories including software design, embedded
development, game design, digital media and IT challenge, which is a
systems level survey for managing technology.
This year’s event is being held in Warsaw, Poland home of the
astronomer Nicolas Copernicus and physicist Marie Curie-Sklodowska.
Opening ceremonies on July 3rd kicked off the competition of projects of
teams who have advanced to the worldwide finals. Consisting of several
students and a mentor to provide guidance, each team has advanced
through several regional events in their respective countries to qualify
to appear in Warsaw. For them, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity
to demonstrate the application of their ideas – ideas that can help
change the world.