Worldwide Finals: Paris, France
Theme: Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment.
Worldwide Competitors:
- Over 210,000 registered
- 59,000 students competed from 126 countries
- 121 finalist teams
Microsoft Press Pass News Release: Microsoft Announces 2008 Imagine Cup Winners
Software Design
First place: Australia, Team SOAK
Second place: Slovakia, Team Housekeepers
Third place: Hungary, Team DigitalMania
Embedded Development
First place: Singapore, Team Trail Blazers
Second place (tie): Ireland, Team AcidRain
Second place (tie): China, Team Wings
Third place: Poland, Team Aero@PUT
Game Development
First place: Brazil, Team Mother Gaia Studio
Second place: Belgium, Team Drunk Puppy Productions
Third place: Korea, Team GOMZ
Project Hoshimi Programming Battle
First place: Russia, Team Red Devils
Second place: China, Team Zephyr
Third place: Ukraine, Team Dream Team
IT Challenge
First place: France, Jean-Benoit Paux
Second place: Romania, Cosmin-Viorel Ilie
Third place: China, Yan Liu
Algorithm
First place: Ukraine, Roman Koshlyak
Second place: Hungary, Szilveszter Szebeni
Third place: Japan, Naohiro Takahashi
Photography
First place: United States, Team Provisio
Second place: Austria, Team Austria
Third place: Croatia, Team Voodoo Delirium
Short Film
First place: Korea, Team NEIP
Second place: Mexico, Team Lava Lamp
Third place: Canada, Team Robotree
Interface Design
First place: United States, Team IU EcoVis
Second place: Canada, Team GreeNet
Third place: France, Team Edelweiss
The Rural Innovation Achievement Award, sponsored by the Microsoft Unlimited Potential Group, was designed to recognize the software solution that most contributed toward a more sustainable environment and best helped promote the social and economic growth of underserved populations in developing countries and regions. It was won by Indonesia's Team Antarmuka.
The Accessible Technology Achievement Award was designed to recognize the interface design solution that made it easier for anyone to see, hear, and use a computer, and to customize their computing environment according to their own preferences, needs, and abilities. It was won by Jeffrey Bigham, a Ph.D. candidate in computer science from the University of Washington, United States, for Project WebAnywhere. An additional onsite challenge was won by France's Team JivAd.
The Interoperability Achievement Award was designed to recognize the software solution that best used Microsoft technologies to connect people, data, or diverse systems to help address real-world customer needs. It was won by India's Team SKAN.
The Windows Live Achievement Award was designed to recognize the software solution that made the best use of the Windows Live platform and adds new social dimensions to both new and old websites and web projects. It was won by Spain's Windows Drive.
The Engineering Excellence Achievement Award, sponsored by the Microsoft Enterprise Engineering Center, was designed to recognize three outstanding teams from the Software Development category who created solutions that demonstrated the potential to be developed to scale with focused guidance from a Microsoft engineer. It was won by the following:
Bulgaria, Team Atlas
United States, Team Sparx
Russia, Team Ignition
The six 2008 Finalist teams chosen to participate in the Imagine Cup Innovation Accelerator program were:
Australia, Team SOAK (Smart Operational Agricultural toolKit)
France, Team Well K'Home
Germany, Team PoinT-Power in Time
Hungary, Team Digital Mania
Slovakia, Team Housekeepers
South Africa, Team Smile
