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"I wish there had been an Imagine Cup when I was growing up. It gets people involved in seeing that software is changing the world."

Everything that the world may become "someday" lies in the hands of young people today. As they look at the road ahead, their close relationship with technology enables them to dream in ways we never have before. Put the two together, and you have young minds holding the tools that can make their vision a reality.

This is the recipe that inspired Microsoft to create the Imagine Cup. What begins with a burst of inspiration and a lot of hard work can become a future software breakthrough, a future career, or a flourishing new industry. The Imagine Cup encourages young people to apply their imagination, their passion and their creativity to technology innovations that can make a difference in the world - today. Now in its sixth 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.

Help to Change the World!

Now in its seventh year, the Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition focused on finding solutions to real-world issues. The competition encourages the world's most talented software designers, programmers, game developers, photographers and filmmakers to tackle the toughest problems facing the world today.

Over 200,000 technology students around the world competed in the 2008 competition.

Do you want:

• To contribute your talents to tackling some of the toughest problems facing us today-and maybe even turn your ideas into a business one day?
• To learn new technology skills and test yourself against the brightest students on the planet?
• To make friends around the world?
• The chance to win cash prizes, internships at Microsoft, and even a free trip to Cairo, Egypt next summer?

Since 2002, the Imagine Cup has been challenging the world's brightest technology students to step up and make a difference.

Your First Steps

Getting started can sometimes be the hardest step.  Follow these instructions to get started competing in the Imagine Cup!

• Register to sign up to compete in one of the categories and to gain access to the forums and e-learning resources. Start here!
• Decide on which invitational fits your talents and motivations: Explore the 2009 competition to find just the one you want to compete in!
• Be the best competitor (and add some new lines to your resume): Microsoft Learning is proud to partner with this year's Imagine Cup to help you prepare for the 2009 competition. With over 25 years of technical training expertise, Microsoft Learning provides tools and services to master the latest products and technologies. We're excited to help make your experience with Imagine Cup 2009 a great success. Start learning now!
• Think about the theme! If you are choosing a competition that requires you to create a theme-based project (all except for IT Challenge and Robotics & Algorithms), read about the eight United Nation Millennium goals and start thinking about which goal(s) you want to make an impact on. 
• Stay connected: Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter when you register. You can also configure your Profile to accept newsletters.
• Read about what we're up to and meet our past winners in our News and Explore pages.
• Experience the excitement of the 2008 World Finals in Paris on Channel 8.
• Visit our forums to start meeting other students like you right away.