What Are You Waiting For?
The world’s toughest problems will be addressed one solution at a time. But who will lead the change? Compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 student technology competition and you’ll join thousands of students from around the world who are stepping up to the challenge of global change. It all starts with you.
Each of the Competitions and the team Challenges asks you to -
imagine a world where technology helps solve the toughest problems. Get involved, stand out, and raise your skills.
Ready to get started?
We know you are excited, but before you start building the next solution that benefits people around the globe or that world-changing game, take a few minutes to read the
Imagine Cup Official Rules and Regulations.
Next: Register and sign up to compete in the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2012 student technology competition, using the steps on this page. Be sure to check out the
10th Anniversary Sweepstakes - Register for your chance to win great prizes!
Returning to Imagine Cup? You can skip Step 1 and sign in now using your email address and password from last year. You still need to sign up for the competition or challenge of your choice through your My Profile page.
New to Imagine Cup? Follow these four steps and you are on your way.
Step 1. Register.We need some basic information from you before you can get started.
Step 2. Sign up to compete in one of the competition or challenge categories:
Step 4. Start building your solution, game or take your first IT Challenge Quiz.
Need a little inspiration? Read about the
Imagine Cup 2012 Theme and follow follow the
Imagine Cup Blog to gain access to new training and resources to help you with your project, read about past Imagine Cup competitors' successes, and get tips and tricks from the captains.
Challenge Yourself to Change the World
We know you have the knowledge, the passion, and the drive to make a difference. There are many challenges faced by our world today and even in your local communities. But did you ever imagine that you could help solve these challenges? It’s true, you can! The
Software Design Competition is all about creating real-world applications and solutions that can help make the world a better place. 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, gender inequality, environmental sustainability, and access education and healthcare.
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Software Design Preliminary Summary
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17 October 2011
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13 March 2012
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Round 2 - Local Country/Region Competition Phase (including Online Finals if applicable)
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22 March 2012
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3 May 2012
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Round 3 - Worldwide Finals
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6 July 2012
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10 July 2012
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Entertainment is Power
3-D or 2-D. Multilevel or single player. The structure of the game is entirely up to you. But the goal all comes back to one thing: using technology to help solve the world’s toughest problems. The
Game Design: Xbox/Windows Competition will give you the opportunity to learn the art of video game design and allow you to showcase your talent on the world stage – your first steps toward a career in game development! Changing the world just became a little more fun!
Your Creativity is Just the Beginning
The
Game Design: Phone Competition gives you the opportunity to learn the art of mobile video game design and allows you to showcase your talent on the world stage – a perfect chance to start taking steps toward a career in game development competition is all about making a game that helps improve the global community utilizing Microsoft technologies. Your Game should be enjoyable to play and highlighting how technology can have an impact.
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 or 12:01 A.M. GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 or 11:59 P.M. GMT)
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Round 1 – Storyboard/Summary Submission
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17 October 2011
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14 February 2012
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Round 2 – Game Submission
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23 February 2012
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13 March 2012
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Round 3 – Worldwide Finals Qualifying
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3 April 2012
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3 May 2012
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Round 4 – Worldwide Finals
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6 July 2012
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10 July 2012
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Show off Your Technical Brainpower - Registration for the IT Challenge is now closed.
Technology is everywhere. The
IT Challenge sets out to connect with those students around the world that have the brainpower, interest, and the technical knowledge to design, run, and support enterprise infrastructures while managing diverse customer needs and scenarios. The IT Challenge puts the world's brightest IT minds to the test!
In the IT Challenge, students are tasked to develop, deploy, and maintain IT systems that are efficient, functional, robust, and secure. Each competitor needs to demonstrate proficiency in the science of networks, databases, and servers and an intimate understanding of how it must all fit together, both on-premise and in the cloud.
The IT Challenge does not require a team, it is an individual challenge.
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Qualifying Quiz
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17 October 2011
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26 January 2012
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Round 2 – Case Study
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14 February 2012
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27 March 2012
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Round 3 – Final Challenge –Virtual Hands-On Lab
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9 May 2012
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9 May 2012
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KINECT FUN LABS CHALLENGE
Join the Kinect Affect
The
Kinect Fun Labs Challenge asks students to think about entertainment with a social conscience and brings the Imagine Cup into the living room. It is a unique opportunity for students to develop applications that change the world with the Fun Labs area of Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE. The Imagine Cup Kinect Fun Labs Challenge will test your Team’s ability to build a prototype which leverages natural user interface (NUI) features such as skeletal tracking, speech recognition, face recognition, and gestures. For this Challenge, we will provide you with state-of-the-art tools to develop Kinect Fun Labs style applications on your PC.
And… each Team that advances to Round 2 will receive a free Kinect for Windows sensor! Get started building your solution today.
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Concept Design
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19 January 2012
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6 March 2012
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Round 2 – Gadget Submission
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27 March 2012
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3 May 2012
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WINDOWS METRO STYLE APP CHALLENGE
We’re bringing the platform. You bring the idea!
Windows 8” is coming and, with the
Windows Metro Style App Challenge, we are asking students to be at the forefront of those creating applications for this new platform. Apps are the center of the Windows 8 experience and great apps start with you. This Challenge will test your Team’s ability to design and build a Metro style app that takes advantage of Windows 8 features and design principles to deliver an experience that solves one of the world’s toughest problems and wows not only us but those across the globe. Sign up get ready to take your first quiz!
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Qualifying Quiz
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19 January 2012
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6 March 2012
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Round 2 – Design and Development
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13 March 2012
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3 May 2012
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WINDOWS AZURE CHALLENGE
Build the Future in the Cloud
The
Windows Azure Challenge is about leveraging the Windows Azure platform features to build a web application in the cloud. Be a contributor to the “next big thing” in the technology industry and solve one of the world’s toughest problems at the same time. Get your smartest friends together, or work on your own and show how one idea can impact the lives of people around the world. Interested? Check out the
full list of Windows Azure features and get started on your web application today.
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Concept and Prototype Design
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18 November 2011
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13 March 2012
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Round 2 – Application Submission
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3 April 2012
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3 May 2012
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Get Involved and Make a Difference
Answer the call. Enter to compete in the
Windows Phone Challenge and create software that can really make a broad impact in the world. Now is your chance to experiment and make your work available on a mobile device used by millions. Great apps start with strong functionality, add device-focused utility, and finish with an outstanding Windows Phone user experience. Plus you will be able to install the
Windows Phone SDK which includes Expression Blend 4 for Windows Phone, Visual Studio Express for Windows Phone Phone Emulator. Your ideas combined with great tools – which one of the world's toughest problems will you solve?
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ROUND
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START DATE
(all times 00:01 GMT)
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END DATE
(all times 23:59 GMT)
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Round 1 – Concept Design
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18 November 2011
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13 March 2012
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Round 2 – Application Submission
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3 April 2012
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3 May 2012
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