Microsoft announces worldwide finalists for Imagine Cup 2012

With more than 350 students from around the globe invited to compete at the 10th anniversary Microsoft Imagine Cup worldwide finals, organizers of the students technology competition, Microsoft has announced that no fewer than 105 teams that will represent their different countries at the worldwide finals next month in Sydney, Australia this summer to showcase their innovative ideas for using technology to solve the world’s toughest problems.

As the winners of regional, national and online Imagine Cup competitions, these smart students represent the future of technology innovation and entrepreneurialism.

Already, student teams from 75 countries including Nigeria, Poland, Egypt, Singapore, Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, Finland, Ireland, Malta, Oman, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Brazil, Japan, UK, US among others have advanced to the finals with projects that tackle humanitarian issues including health, accessibility, the environment, education and more.

All the 2012 Imagine Cup worldwide finalists already announced will be eligible to apply for the Imagine Cup Grants program this year.

Although some countries have more than one teams, the teams including Gravity, Nkama Team, Boddy Music, mLab, Future Touch, Engine, Make A Sign, SPU Team, Digital Mangue, K-Vision, Greeni, IntegraKINECT, Greenway, Joshua Sim, Complex, Vivid, The Stack, Team OwNet, among others will compete at the worldwide finals event from July 6th through 10th 2012 for $175,000 (U.S.) in cash prizes in categories including Software Design, Game Design: Phone, Game Design: Xbox/Windows, the Windows Phone Challenge sponsored by Nokia, the IT Challenge, the Windows Azure Challenge, the Kinect Fun Labs Challenge sponsored by Microsoft Studios, and the Windows Metro Style App Challenge sponsored by Windows.