Bangkok--22 Dec--Hill & Knowlton
with a chance to win a royal trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn Competition provides opportunities for Thai students to enter global technology competition
Microsoft (Thailand) Limited is offering Thai students a fabulous opportunity to showcase their potential in developing software applications through its Imagine Cup 2009 competition. The winners have the chance to receive a royal trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn, scholarships, as well as, a chance to represent Thailand at the Imagine Cup finals in Cairo, Egypt. The competition encourages students to use creativity and their initiative to express their talents on a global stage, providing them with opportunities to explore how software solutions can potentially turn into business realities.
In its seventh consecutive year the Imagine Cup Competition is warmly received by students around the world, and more than 1,000 students from 100 countries join the competition in various categories each year. In Thailand, the software design competition is arranged under the global theme of “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the problems facing us today”, to inspire people to solve the tough problems in the world today. This theme will be used for 3 consecutive years starting from this year onwards.
Patama Chantaruck, Managing Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited, said, “Microsoft Thailand is striving to foster local innovation and the Imagine Cup Competition plays a key role in answering those needs which will accordingly create more jobs and opportunities in Thai society. Two years ago, Thailand’s representatives gained global fame with their impressive award win, demonstrating Thai software developers’ ability to design world class applications. Imagine Cup Competition is part of Microsoft’s ongoing Unlimited Potential Initiative which aims to transform education, foster local innovation, and enable job creation and opportunities. In 2008, even though Thai representatives did not win any awards, the great work and creative ideas were very impressive and attracted much interest from software entrepreneurs.
“This year Microsoft (Thailand) is very honored that HRH Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn will provide a royal trophy for Thailand’s winners. I hope that the success from previous years both locally and on the international stage will encourage new generations to participate and compete in this competition.”
The Imagine Cup 2009 competition is divided into 9 categories; Software Design, Embedded Development, Game Development, Mash up, Robotics & Algorithm, IT Challenge, Photography, Short Film, and Design. Interested students can send their proposals within January 31, 2009. Microsoft will then select 10 finalists and announce the results on February 14, 2009 in order to let the contestants fully develop software applications from their proposals. Additionally, Microsoft will organize useful training activities for the finalists between 15th February and 19th April, 2009 to prepare them for the final presentation on April 20, 2009. The results of the competition’s winners will be announced on 20th May 2009.
Commenting on the PR activities of Imagine Cup 2009, Siriporn Pajharawat, Developer & Platform Strategy Director, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited, said, “The company has arranged a road show to Universities thorough out the country called “One Education Road show”, combining it with other Microsoft’s educational activities. Students will receive information about the competition and have a chance to discuss the competition directly with Microsoft staff. In previous competitions we have seen Thai students propose stimulating ideas and a high level of knowledge about software applications. I believe that if Thai students learn to improve their presentation skills, and show determination, they have the potential to compete for the top global prize.”
The winning team from Thailand in the Software Design category will represent Thailand in the final round in Egypt with sponsorship, including air tickets and accommodation worth over 400,000 baht, provided by Microsoft. Additionally, the winning team will be granted a scholarship worth 100,000 baht and the royal trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Siridhorn, plate and certificate form Microsoft, plus an incubation training program at Software park. As for the first and the second runner-ups, they will be granted scholarships worth 60,000 baht and 40,000 baht respectively, as well as a plate and certification from Microsoft. The other 7 finalists will be granted scholarships worth 10,000 baht as well as a plate and certification from Microsoft.
A student from Engineering Faculty, Kasetsart University, Udomsak Donkhamprai, from SKE team, who won the first prize of Imagine Cup 2008 and represented Thailand in Paris, France, said, “Joining Imagine Cup Competition helps broaden my horizons and offers a great opportunity to allow our ideas to become real software applications. Imagine Cup encourages us to foster learning outside the classroom. Moreover, I can learn how to work like a team and brainstorm to find the best ideas to compete with top teams from around the world. I am very proud to have been Thailand’s representative in last year competition. Even though we didn’t win any awards we had a chance to meet and exchange ideas with other teams. I would like to encourage everyone to join this project. It’s a great chance to show your potential to the world and gain valuable experience.”
Interested people can find more information or apply for the competition from now until January 31, 2008 at www.microsoft.com/thailand/imaginecup.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited provides world-class software that is easy to use and localized to suit the local market’s needs. It also has a compelling and consistent platform to build powerful business solutions that can scale from a notebook computer to a mainframe — class multiprocessor systems using Microsoft technology. For further information, information, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at: http://www.microsoft.com/thailand.
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For further information, please contact:
Suphada Chaiwong
Hill & Knowlton Thailand
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