Technologists, artists vie for Microsoft's contest

With an aim to encourage students to apply their imagination and creativity to technology innovations, Microsoft's premier technology competition for students 'Imagine Cup' kicked off here.

Over 150 students from 41 different countries world-wide will compete in the week-long 'Imagine Cup' finals, which began here yesterday, for the prize money worth $125,000.

Around 65,000 students from 100 countries had applied for the competition, the theme of which was "Imagine a world where technology e nables us to live healthier lives."

Two Indian teams, from NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) and Indrapastha University, are also participating this year.

"The contest has been designed to provide an outlet to students to explore various technological and artistic interests outside the classroom and provides them with opportunities for participation in the future of technology, software and computing, Microsoft Director of Academic Initiatives, Joe Wilson said.

"The theme of this year is a challenge to the world's top student technologists to actively contribute to the mission of improving health around the world," he added.

"India has emerged as the global technology hotbed. It contributes significantly to the development of most generation technologies," Microsoft India Director (Developer and Platform Evangelism) Sheila Gulati said.

The winners in various categories will be honoured at a function in Delhi after the competition ends on August 9. Last year, the competition was held in Yokohama, Japan.