OVERVIEW
The Imagine Cup provides the incentive, but the competitors
provide the genius behind innovative, dynamic, and powerful software
applications. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors can unleash
their ideas and technical talent to create cutting-edge software applications.
Students will develop, test, and build their ideas into applications that can
help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, such as poverty, hunger,
environment, and access to education and healthcare. Each team will envision,
develop, and test innovative solutions that can and will change the world.
For many competitors, the Imagine Cup is often a big step on the
way to a great future as a technology humanitarian. Many competitors will work
at major corporations, begin non-profit organizations, integrate their solutions
into key programs for government agencies, or start their own companies. One
thing is certain Software Design competitors definitely help change the world.
Teams will need to be able to prove that their technical
solutions are innovative enough to advance them to compete in the Imagine Cup
2012 Worldwide Finals in Sydney, Australia in July 2012, where they will show
the world their solutions and represent their country/region on the world stage.
In order to help you to better understand the Imagine Cup 2012
Theme Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems" we
recommend familiarizing yourselves with the eight United Nations Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs identify some of the toughest challenges in
the world today. Learn more about the 2012 Theme.
The Software Design competition is structured differently based
on the country/region you are representing. Please make sure to read your local
country/region competition rules (if applicable) to better understand how to
compete in this competition.
If you choose to compete in this Competition, then you agree
that your participation is subject to the following:
If there are any inconsistencies between the Imagine Cup Official Rules, the
Imagine Cup Terms of Use, the Imagine Cup Code of Conduct and/or these
Competition Details, the Imagine Cup Official Rules will govern.
WHAT ARE THE START AND END DATES?
Please see the competition timeline and flow.
TEAM
A Team may consist of up to four (4) eligible students (each a "Team"). Your Team does not need to consist of members who are legal residents of the same country/region, or students at the same academic institution, but your Team can only represent one (1) country/region and at least one (1) of the Team members must be a legal resident of the represented country/region. To qualify as a valid Team member, each individual must register and form or join a Team no later than the closing date of Round 1. We will not accept changes to a Team beyond this date.
MENTOR
It is recommended, but not required, that you have one (1) mentor for your Team in addition to your four (4) Team members. Limit one (1) mentor per Team. A mentor can be from an educational institution, a not-for-profit organization or a private sector company. To qualify as a valid mentor for a Team, this individual must register as the Team’s mentor no later than the closing date of Round 1. We will not accept changes to a Team’s mentor beyond this date.
SUBMISSION
Project submission information will be communicated to you via email once registered. Please note that your project submission MUST use the template provided and ONLY be submissted as per the instructions that will be provided.
ENTRY LIMIT
We will only accept one (1) entry per Team. A competitor may not be a member of more than one (1) Team in the Software Design Competition.
HOW WILL ENTRIES BE JUDGED?
Please check the judging critera