# Imagine Cup

Imagine Cup is an annual competition sponsored and hosted by Microsoft Corp. which brings together student developers worldwide to help resolve some of the world's toughest challenges. It is considered as "Olympics of Technology" by computer science and engineering and is considered one of the top competitions and awards related to technology and software design. All Imagine Cup competitors create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems". Started in 2003, it has steadily grown, with more than 2 million competitors representing 150 countries in 2022. The 2023 Imagine Cup World Championship was held in Seattle, United States.

## History

* The Imagine Cup is an annual technology competition hosted by Microsoft. It invites students from around the world to apply their imagination, passion, and creativity to solve real-world problems using technology. Often referred to as the "Olympics of Technology," the Imagine Cup fosters innovation among young developers and has been a launchpad for numerous groundbreaking ideas.

### Origins and Launch

The Imagine Cup was first introduced in 2003 as part of Microsoft's initiative to encourage the next generation of technologists and entrepreneurs. Its goal was to empower students to use Microsoft technologies to create impactful projects in fields such as education, health, sustainability, and accessibility.
* Inception: The inaugural Imagine Cup took place with just 1,000 participants from 25 countries.
* Format: Initially, the competition focused on software design but quickly expanded to include other categories, such as embedded systems and game development.

### Evolution of the Competition

Over the years, the Imagine Cup has grown in scope and scale, attracting tens of thousands of participants annually. The competition has been shaped by technological trends and global challenges.
* Categories and Themes:
** 2003–2006: The early years emphasized software design and computer science.
** 2007: The competition adopted a theme-based approach, with topics like "Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment."
** 2010s: As cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and mobile apps became central to tech innovation, these technologies were integrated into the competition.
* Microsoft Technology Integration: Participants are encouraged to use Microsoft tools, such as Azure, Visual Studio, and .NET, to develop their projects.
* Diversity and Global Reach: Today, the Imagine Cup includes participants from over 190 countries and regions, reflecting its global appeal and commitment to inclusivity.

### Structure of the Imagine Cup

The competition is divided into multiple stages:
* National and Regional Competitions: Students first compete in local events organized by Microsoft subsidiaries in their respective countries.
* Online Rounds: Participants who cannot attend local events can submit their projects online.
* World Finals: The top teams from each region are invited to compete in the global finals, held at various locations worldwide. These events often feature keynote speeches, workshops, and mentorship sessions with Microsoft executives.
* Championship: Since 2018, the competition concludes with the Imagine Cup World Championship, where the top three teams present their projects to a panel of high-profile judges.

### Milestones and Memorable Projects

Throughout its history, the Imagine Cup has spotlighted innovative ideas and entrepreneurial spirit. Some notable milestones include:
* 2006: A team from Brazil developed an educational tool that helps children with hearing impairments learn to communicate using visual aids and sign language.
* 2012: A team from Ukraine won with a project called "Enable Talk," which used sensor gloves to translate sign language into speech in real time.
* 2020: The competition adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving entirely online, demonstrating resilience and the ability to connect students worldwide.
* 2023: Teams showcased projects integrating advanced AI tools, addressing issues like mental health, renewable energy, and disaster management.

### Impact and Legacy

The Imagine Cup has become a catalyst for innovation, providing students with resources, mentorship, and exposure to industry leaders. Many participants have gone on to turn their projects into startups, gaining recognition and funding.
* Empowering Entrepreneurs: The competition has helped launch numerous startups, including apps and platforms in healthcare, education, and sustainability.
* Career Development: Participants gain invaluable experience, with many joining top tech companies or continuing their entrepreneurial journeys.
* Global Challenges: By encouraging participants to address pressing global issues, the Imagine Cup has fostered solutions with real-world impact.

## Competition structure

All Imagine Cup competitors create projects that address the Imagine Cup theme: "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems."

### Competitions

* Software Design The Software Design competition challenges participants to use technology to solve what they consider to be the toughest problems facing the world today. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors create software applications. Participants develop, test, and build their ideas into applications that can change the world.
* Game Design The Game Design Competition challenges participants to create a new game that illustrates the Imagine Cup theme.

## Winners

There are a number of competitions and challenges within the Imagine Cup. The Software Design category is the primary competition in which its winners take home the Imagine Cup trophy.

### Software Design

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2004 | Team EPITA Aymeric Gaurat Apelli Francois Beaussier Guillaume Belmas Vincent Vergonjeanne | Team Inspiration Stanislav Vonog Nikolay Surin Konstantin Zhereb Taras Kushko | Team SmartEyes Eleni Korkontzila Dimitrios Bisias Styliani Taplidou Nikolaos Trichakis |
| 2005 | Team OmniMusic Stanislav Vonog Nikolay Surin Alexander Popov Ruslan Gilfanov |
| 2006 | Team Even.ctor Giorgio Sardo Massimo Paternoster Silvia Perrone Andrea Sossich | Team Trivial Carlos Rodrigues Ivan Cardim Madson Menezes | Team NTNU Jan-Kristian Markiewicz Gøran Hansen Hans Olav Norheim Jonas Follesø |
| 2007 | Team 3KC Prachaya Phaisanwiphatpong Vasan Chienmaneetaweesin Jatupon Sukkasem Pathompol Saeng-Uraiporn | Team En#605/Project Finger Code Prachaya Phaisanwiphatpong Vasan Chienmaneetaweesin Jatupon Sukkasem Pathompol Saeng-Uraiporn | Team ICAD Imran Allie Conroy Smith Ayson Baxter Damion Mitchel |
| 2008 | Team SOAK David Burela Edward Hooper Dimaz Pramudnya Long Zheng | Team Housekeepers Dusan Zelenik Jakub Simko Michal Kompan Marian Honsch |
| 2009 | Team Sytech Adrian Buzgar Calin Juravle Andreas Resios | Team VitalLab Maxim Bovykin Sergey Fedorov Denis Gnatyuk Alexey Klishin |
| 2010 | Team Skeek Krithee Sirisith Pichai Sodsai Thanasunn Dilokpinitnun Nonthawat Srichad | Team TFZR Zlatibor Veljković Milan Kojadinović Goran Nikolić Vanja Zavišin | Team OneBeep Vinny Lohan Steve Ward Kayo Lakadia Chanyeol Yoo |
| 2011 | Team Hermes James McNamara Calum Cawley Matthew Padden Aine Conaghan | Team Note-Taker Qian Yan Shashank Srinivas David Hayden Michael Astrauskas | Team OaSys Yousef Wadi Mohammad Azzam Monir Abu Hilal Hani Abu Huwaij |
| 2012 | Team quadSquad Stepanov Anton Posternikov Anton Osika Maxim Jasakov Valery |
| 2013 | Team For a Better World |
| 2014 | Team Eyenamia |
| 2015 | Team EFitFashion |
| 2016 | Team ENTy |
| 2017 | Team X.Glu |
| 2018 | Team SmartArm |
| 2019 | Team EasyGlucose Bryan Chiang | Team Caeli Bharat Sundal | Team Finderr Ferdinand Loesch Choon Kiat Lee Sachin Sriskanda |

### Office Designer

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2005 | Team Solvent-OD Andre Furtado Adeline Silva Madson Menezes Raony Araujo | Team FIBRA Sergey Dubovi Pavel Zadumkin Dmitry Kozlov Anastasiya Filinova | Team Paladin Liu Teifeng Yang Yongzhi He Cong Yang Lizhen |

### Embedded Development Competition

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2007 | Team TriventDreams ED Andre Furtado Carlos Rodrigues Ivan Cardim Roberto Sonnino |
| 2008 | Team Trail Blazers | Team AcidRain Team Wings | Team Aero@PUT |
| 2009 | Team Wafree | Team iSee |
| 2010 | Team SmarterME | Team MCPU | Team GERAS |
| 2011 | NTHUCS | Harmonicare | Endeavour_Design |

### Interoperability Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2008 | SKAN Sameet Singh Khajuria Karun AB Amith George Noel Sequeira | Ecologix Carlos Eduardo Rodrigues Eduardo Sonnino Renato Ferreira Roberto Sonnino | Together Dariusz Walczak Marcin Wrzos Piotr Sikora Tomasz Nowak |
| 2009 | Proativa Team Amirton Chagas Flavio Almeida Joao Paulo Oliveira Santos Lucas Mello | ECRAM Mohammed Y. Eshbeata Laith Dawahir Wassim Shehadeh | Fteams Tomasz Ciejka Grzegorz Glonek Jacek Pintera Krzysztof Szokal-Egird |
| 2010 | Xormis Shawn Mclean Derron Brown Dwayne Samuels Markel Mairs | Uptiva Dreams IT Hugo Rodrigues Edmiel Leandro Daniel Ferreira Eduardo Sonnino | Chandradimuka Yudha Antawiryawan Kania Audrint Anggunmeka Luhur Prasasti Widyara Desgita |
| 2011 | Team Alaniarides Giorgos Karakatsiotis Vangos Pterneas | Bells Team Daniel Ferreira Lucas Mello Amirton Chagas Joao Paulo dos Santos Oliveira | DemosceneSpirit Lukasz Michniewicz Szymon Majewski Marek Banaszak Magdalena Dudarska |

### Game Design

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2008 | Team Mother Gaia Studio Rafael Costa Guilhermr Campos Helena Van Kampen Tulio Marques Soria | Drunk Puppy Productions Kenny Deriemaeker Timothy Vanherberghen Filip Van Bouwel Jeroen Van Raevels | GomZ Dong HoonKim KiHwan Kim Min My Park |
| 2009 | Team LEVV It Luciano José Edgar Neto Vinícius Ottoni Victor Rafael | Epsylon Games | Sanguine Labs |
| 2010 | Team By Implication | NomNom Productions | Green Gears Studio |
| 2011 Mobile | Geekologic | Close World Mobile | Team Dragon Pierre Elias Eric Lee Veronica Burkel Chase Sandmann |
| 2011 Web | Cellardoor | Signum Fidei Thomas Tiam-Lee Jenina Chua Jeriah Miranda Keven Hernandez | Quegee Team |
| 2011 Windows/Xbox | Signum Games | JubJub | WickedTeam |
| 2012 Windows/Xbox | TANG Thai |
| 2014 | Brainy Studio | BOMON | Illogic |
| 2015 | IzHard | Kuality Games | Thief |
| 2016 | PH21 |

### IT Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2005 | Stefan Plizga | Emanuel Pentescu | Andreas Tomek |
| 2006 | Andreas Tomek | Valy Greavu | Daniel Boteanu |
| 2007 | Zhifeng Chen | Romain Larmet | Ilie Cosmin Viorel |
| 2008 | Jean-Benoit Paux | Cosmin Ilie | Yan Liu |
| 2009 | Cosmin Ilie | Wu Chang | Miklos Cari Sivila |
| 2010 | WeiQiu Wen | Miklos Cari Sivila | zxc1984 |
| 2011 | Jean-Sébastien Duchêne | Błażej Matuszyk | Yunheng Mong |

### Digital Media

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2010 | Mirror Vita | Dreaming Spirits | Woolgathering |
| 2011 | M.N.A. | Brothers Forever | CottonCandy |

### Health Awareness Awards

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2012 | FifthElement Project Matteo Valoriani Antimo Musone Daniele Midi Antonio Vecchio | N/A | N/A |

### Connected Planet Award

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2013 | Y Nots | N/A | N/A |

### Microsoft Azure (Cloud)

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2013 | Y Nots | nLife | LetssGo |

### Windows Phone

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2011 | HOMERUN | Zipi Zigi | Lifelens Tristan Gibeau Cy Khormaee Wilson To Jason Wakizaka |
| 2012 | Vivid Noureldien Hussein (Nour El-Dien Hussein) Muhammad El-Orabi Kariem El-Shazly | The Stack Karol Stosik | Aaltovation Apurva Jaiswal Irena Prochkova Gitanjali Sachdeva Maimuna Syed |

### Windows 7 Touch Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2011 | Team India Rose Anthony Froissant José Martins | _dreambender_ | IUVO |

### World Citizenship Competition

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2013 | For a Better World | Omni-Hearing Solution | Foodbank Local |
| 2014 | Eyenaemia | SMART Crew | Access Earth Matthew McCann Jack Gallagher KC Grant Donal McClean |
| 2015 | Virtual Dementia Experience | Mozter | Prognosis |
| 2016 | AMANDA | Night's Watch | InSimu |

### Innovation Competition

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2013 | soundSYNK Robert Parker Alex Bochenski Jonathan Neumann Edward Noel | Dora | SkyPACS |
| 2014 | Estimeet Hayden Do Jason Wei Chris Duan Derek Zhu | Tep | ButterFly |
| 2015 | eFitFashion | NoObs Team | Siymb |
| 2016 | ENTy | Bit Masters | HealthX |

### Facebook Creativity Award

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | ij Developers | | |
| 2013 | Team Ayni | | |

### AppCampus Award

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | Tep Brainy Studio | | |

### Skype Award

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | Drive Social Impact Eyenaemia Learning and Education Code Buzzers Innovate and Collaborate Super Sea Dragons | | |

### Visual Studio Online Boost

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | Genesis LeapKin Tutus flipped.uy RELOAD Learn n' Earn BiDE Code AfriGal Tech Flow | | |

### Apps For Office Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | iGeek CodeBlue | | |

### Windows & Windows Phone Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | Pomato Apps | | |

### User Experience Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | World Citizenship Team HCI/d Games Team Silicon Innovation Hiraya Gabriel Eric Villanueva Jomarie Anne Marquez Neo John Tuquero | | |

### Pitch Video Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | World Citizenship Team Symbiote Games Team Sticky Bits Innovation Team Mote Labs | | |
| 2015 | World Citizenship Rapid Response | | |

### Project Blueprint Challenge

| Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 2014 | World Citizenship Team Life Up Games Liaison Team Innovation YouBeRu | | |

## Innovation Accelerator

The Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator was a program that, between 2006 and 2008, provided Imagine Cup Software Design teams with direction on the next stage of developing their innovative ideas into a business. Each year, between 2006 and 2008, six teams were selected for the Innovation Accelerator program. Participants in the Innovation Accelerator program travelled to the Microsoft Mountain View campus in Silicon Valley and received technical support and business coaching to create the must-have technology and communications applications of the future. In 2010, Microsoft began inviting every Imagine Cup team to participate in its new program for startups: Microsoft BizSpark. With this program, startups receive access to current, full-featured software development tools and platforms.
Previous teams include:
* 2006: Brazil, China, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Norway, India
* 2007: Ireland, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Thailand,
* 2008: Australia, France, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, South Africa,

## Imagine Cup Grant

A three-year, $3 million competitive grant program was established by Microsoft in 2011 to support a select number of winning teams’ solutions to go to market and realize its potential to solve a critical global problem. The inaugural grant recipients were announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 27, 2012, which included the following teams:
* Team Lifelens from the United States
* Team Apptenders from Croatia
* Team Falcon Dev from Ecuador
* Team OaSys from Jordan
The grant packages include US$75,000 for each team, as well as software, cloud computing services, solution provider support, premium Microsoft BizSpark account benefits and access to local resources such as the Microsoft Innovation Centers. Microsoft will also connect grant recipients with its network of investors, nongovernmental organization partners and business partners.
For the 2012 version of the competition, the following teams were announced in December 2012. The teams are:
* Team Graphmasters from Germany. The team members are: Christian Brüggemann, Sebastian Heise and Iulian Nitescu.
* Team StethoCloud from Australia. The team members are: Hon Weng Chong, Andrew Lin, Mahsa Salehi and Karthik Rajah.
* Team Vivid from Egypt. The team members are: Noureldien Hussein (Nour El-Dien Hussein), Muhammed Mousa El-Orabi and Fady Fawzy Rafla.
* Team Cipher256 from Uganda The team members are: Aaron Tushabe, Joshua Okello, Dr. Davis Musinguzi, Josiah Kavuma and Joseph Kaizzi.
* Team QuadSquad from Ukraine. The team members are: Maxim Osika, Valeriy Yasakov, Anton Stepanov, Anton Posternikov and Dmytro Samoilenko.

## Recognition

Imagine Cup participants from around the world who won their regional competitions in 2010 have been recognized by their government leaders.
In October 2010, two Imagine Cup 2010 United States finalists (Wilson To from the Mobilifeteam and Christian Hood from BeastWare) were invited to participate in the White House Science Fair.
New Zealand's Prime Minister, Hon. John Key sent Team OneBeep from New Zealand a personal letter that congratulated them on their third-place finish. Team Skeek from Thailand, winners of the 2010 Software Design competition, met Dr. Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, a member of Parliament and Secretary General of The Rajapruek Institute Foundation. Microsoft Poland and members of the European Parliament hosted the "Pushing the Boundaries of Innovation" conference in Brussels. Imagine Cup teams from Poland (fteams and Mutants), Serbia (TFZR), Germany (Mediator), and Belgium (Nom Nom Productions) were in attendance.
Greek Imagine Cup winners, Giorgos Karakatsiotis and Vangos Pterneas, of Megadodo, met with the Prime Minister of Greece, George Papandreou, and demonstrated their project that creates personalized descriptions of museum exhibits based on the user's needs. Teams Xormis and Educ8 from Jamaica were honored with a special luncheon hosted by the Government of Jamaica that included an address from Hon. Bruce Golding, the prime minister. Team Think Green had the opportunity to meet with Ivo Josipović, President of Croatia.