Microsoft launched the Imagine Cup with the aim of encouraging young people to apply their imagination, passion  and creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world – today. Now in its seventh year, the Imagine Cup has grown to be a truly global competition focused on finding solutions to real world issues.

Open to students around the world, the Imagine Cup is a serious challenge that draws serious talent, and the competition is intense. The contest spans a year, beginning with local, regional and online contests whose winners go on to attend the global finals held in a different location every year.  The intensity of the work brings students together, and motivates the competitors to give it their all. The bonds formed here often last well beyond the competition itself.

The Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition, providing an opportunity for top young minds around the globe to use technology to solve some of the planet’s toughest problems. Imagine Cup contestants have the chance to gain worldwide exposure for their ideas, build professional contacts, and experience a true sense of friendship and camaraderie with their peers around the world. Last year, more than 130,000 students from 90 countries participated in Imagine Cup. Yearly, after the preliminary rounds, the winning students compete in worldwide finals held in July timeframe for a week in the worldwide finals hosting country.

The Imagine Cup was founded in 2003. Worldwide Finals host countries have spanned the globe from Spain, to Brazil, to Japan, to India, to South Korea, to France.

Although the race to host the Imagine Cup 2009 finals was competitive — with candidates including USA, Mexico, Poland, United Arab Emirates, Australia, Singapore and Russia — Egypt’s proposal was welcomed.

2009 marks the seventh year of the Imagine cup. This year Egypt will host the competition for the first time, giving Egyptian students even more reason to participate in the competition. The competition will be held under the auspices of the First Lady Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak.

The competition invites youth from over 100 countries around the world to design a solution to a chosen theme decided on by the host country. The theme will be "Imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems facing us today." Students will be asked to create software solutions that are aligned to one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The eight MDGs range from halving extreme poverty and halting the spread of HIV/AIDS to providing universal primary education

There are three broad categories in which entries are submitted: Technology Solutions, Skills Challenges, and Digital Arts. Each of these Categories is divided into a further three categories. Entries are judged firstly within sub-categories, secondly within category, and finally across categories. The finals will take place in July this year.

Read more about the Imagine Cup at www.imaginecup.com