Two student teams from Africa emerge as winners in this years Microsoft Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regional final. The teams from Tunisia and Kenya will go on to represent the region at the world championship in Seattle. For a chance to win the grand prize of USD100,000 cash, USD50,000 Azure credits and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
The Knights from Kenya and RedWalls from Tunisia took the winning spots. Each winning USD 8,000 cash, Azure credits and an all expenses paid trip to the World Championship in Seattle. Three runner-up teams conclude the winning teams. Wild Eye from Kenya, Allez from Ukraine and Vhysio from the United Kingdom. Each runner-up team getting USD 2,500 cash and Azure credits.
No African team has clinched the prestigious grand prize in the eighteen years history of the cup competition. Can the teams make history this made? We look forward to bringing you the world championship from Microsoft Build 2020 in May. When the EMEA champions take on their Asia and Americas counterpart.
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Microsoft Imagine Cup Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regional finalist will now virtually pitch their ideas to judges. This is as concerns of COVID-19 (corona virus) increase worldwide. The in-person regional cup competition finals was scheduled to take place March 10 to 12 in Amsterdam.
The spread of COVID-19, corona virus in new countries and regions is seeing conferences cancelled worldwide. Many organizations are resorting to hosting only virtual events. Microsoft announced the cancellation of its Ignite the Tour in Amsterdam and pointed interested attendees to watching the on demand sessions online. Stating “the health and safety of our customers, partners, suppliers and employees is a top priority“.
The cancellation of the tour means cancellation of co-located events; Imagine Cup EMEA regional finals and Microsoft Student Partner (MSP) Summit. The cup competition will still take place, however virtually on March 10.
Microsoft shares an update on the competition;
“The ten student teams from across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will virtually pitch their purpose-driven applications at the Imagine Cup EMEA Regional Final“.
Each of the ten student teams will pitch their solution, answer questions, and showcase their technology to judges. Two teams will be selected to represent the EMEA regional region at the 2020 World Championship finals in Seattle. For a chance to compete for the grand prize of USD100,000 cash, USD50,000 Azure credits and mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. The winning teams from the regional finals will take home USD8,000. Whereas three runner-up teams will each take home USD2,500.
We will look to bring you coverage of the regional finals.
Check out details of the EMEA regional finals imagine student cup competition from last year.
Student teams from Kenya and Tunisia qualify for the next stage of the 2020 Microsoft Imagine Cup competition. They are part of ten online regional semi-finalists from the Europe Middle East and Africa region. They will get to present their ideas at the Microsoft Imagine Cup EMEA regional finals in Amsterdam in March. With a chance to win USD 20,000, Azure Credit and a trip to the Imagine Cup World Championship in Seattle.
The teams from Kenya and Tunisia make up the only three online regional semi-finalist from Africa. They are Wild Eye – Dedan Kimathi University of Technology (DeKUT), Kenya, RedWalls – Tunisia and The Knights – Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), Kenya.
The teams will have a chance to qualify and present their ideas at the 2020 Microsoft Imagine Cup world finals. Where they can win USD 100,000 cash, USD50,000 in Azure grants and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Other qualifiers are student teams from Ukraine, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Poland, UK and Pakistan. Stay tuned, as we bring you updates till the world finals in Seattle.
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Microsoft is extending its global student competition program Imagine Cup to younger students with new Imagine Cup Junior competition. The new competition will target secondary school students between the ages of thirteen to eighteen globally.
Microsoft says Imagine Cup Junior competition will help students learn about technology and build 21st century skills like communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity. While coming up with ideas for improving the world around them. The first edition will focus on Artificial Intelligence and introducing the students to Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives.
Microsoft VP Education, Anthony Salcito says “we believe the future is in the hands of students around the world. Who are increasingly driven by a sense of purpose and want to have a positive impact on the world and their communities“.
The goal of the competition is to create excitement and energy among students and educators Microsoft says. By giving them the opportunity to use Artificial Intelligence to solve real-world problems. Unlike the other, the Junior competition is only opened to schools and instructor led clubs. To participate in the competition an educator or instructor will need to register the institution for the Contest.
Students and educators do not need to have prior knowledge of AI. Microsoft has created a host of materials, including templates and AI resource guides to help learn from scratch. The lesson guides include modules on Fundamentals of AI, machine learning and AI applications in real life.
Submissions for team projects will be open from February 3, 2020 and close April 17, 2020.
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Register to showcase your innovation at the 2020 Imagine Cup EMEA Online Regional Semifinals.
Do you have an idea that solves a problem? Can your idea use Microsoft’s Azure technology in solving the problem? Register to participate in Microsoft’s 2020 Europe Middle East and Africa (EMEA) Imagine Cup online regional semifinals. For a chance to qualify to the EMEA Regional finals in Amsterdam. Where you can win USD 8,000 cash, Azure credits and travel to the world finals in Seattle.
Students at any qualified academic institution aged 16 and above can participate in the cup competition. Teams can be of one to three members.
Imagine Cup is about innovations changing the way we live. It is about solutions and applications that save lives.
The competition provides a platform for student teams across the globe to showcase the technology ideas they create. How those technologies can not only shape their futures, but directly improve the lives of users.
EMEA Online Regional Semifinals
The competition begins with a call to submit unique ideas to the online regional semi-final competition. Submit your EMEA online regional semi-final projects by December 15, 2019. Announcement of finalists will take place on 15th January 2020. They will advance to present their projects 10th March 2020 at the in-person Regional Finals in Amsterdam.
Local country competitions will he held in some countries. Winners from these countries will join the online winners at the 2020 Imagine Cup EMEA regional finals in Amsterdam. For a chance to qualify to the world finals. Last year team iCropal from Kabarak University, Kenya was one of such teams.
Team iCropal Left, present at EMEA regional finals in Amsterdam
2020 World Finals
Winners and runner up teams from EMEA, Asia and Americas Regional Final will meet in Seattle to compete in the Imagine Cup World Championship. For a chance to win USD 100,000 cash. As well as USD 50,000 in Azure grants and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Do you need help to get started? There are lots of resources to get you learning and going.
Join us watch the final show down of Imagine Cup 2019. Three teams representing Asia, Europe Middle East and Africa and the Americas regions will compete for the grand prize. Taking home USD100K and a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella.
This year, Imagine Cup 2019 World Championship student developer team finalist will present their ideas at Microsoft Build. Yes, Imagine Cup finals is taking place at Microsoft’s 2019 Build developer conference. The finals will take place before Build 2019 keynotes begin. Event will be live at 8:00AM PT, 3:00PM GMT (4:00PM UK), 6:00PM EAT and 5:00PM SAT.
Watch 2019 World Championship Live
About the Teams
The three regional finalists are;
Asia Winner: Team Caeli, from Manav Rachna Institute of Research & Studies, India
