Watch Microsoft developer conference Build 2021 and get all the latest in Microsoft technology announcements. Where CEO, Satya Nadella will highlight how Microsoft is creating new opportunities for developers across the modern tech stack.
The free digital viewing of Build 2021 event starts at these times worldwide 3 PM GMT, 6 PM EAT, 5 PM 8 AM PT, May 25th to 27th 2021. Microsoft says this year the developer event is focused on empowering developers to help solve real-world problems.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Four computer science final year students of the United States International University – Africa (USIS) in Kenya will represent the Europe Middle East and Africa region at the Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship.
The students are winners of the healthcare category and one of four teams advancing to the finals of this year’s Microsoft Imagine Cup competition. Where they get to compete with other teams from New Zealand, the United States, and Thailand for USD75,000 and mentorship with Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella.
“We have no words, it means a lot“
The Team
Meet team REWEBA, made of four members; Khushi Gupta, Jeet Gohil, Dharmik Karania, and Abdihamid Ali. REWBA comes from their innovation name Remote Well Baby.
Team REWEBA entered into the competition under the healthcare category with an IoT-based early warning system for babies. Their innovation remotely monitors infant parameters during regular post-natal screening. It then sends measurements to doctors remotely, allowing for immediate interventions saving infants from fatal diseases, and reducing infant mortality rates.
The students from Kenya say we have no words, it means a lot after working hard to get to the Imagine Cup World Championship.
Their journey includes beating tens of thousands of students from 163 countries in the online semifinal round. Then selected as part of 40 teams to qualify for round one of the World Finals stage. Where two other student teams from Kenya; Cafrilearn and INTELLIVOLT qualified to compete.
They among 11 other teams from across the world qualified to present in round two of the World Finals. Advancing to the next stage of the competition means the team wins USD10,000 and Azure credits.
Imagine Cup World Championship
The four finalists present ideas that tackle local and global issues in one of each of the competition categories; healthcare, education, earth, and lifestyle. The three other teams are Team ProTag from New Zealand, Hand-On-Labs from the USA, and Threeotech from Thailand.
The world championship is taking place before the Microsoft Build 2021 Keynotes. Team REWEBA from Kenya will get the opportunity to be the first team from Africa to win the Microsoft Imagine Cup student competition.
Two students, Michael Mwaisakenyi and Kenneth Gichira, from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) are the regional winners of the 18th annual Microsoft Imagine Cup Competition.
The annual competition saw thousands of students across the world submitting innovations to impact their communities, both locally and globally. The competition advanced through hackathons, online semi-finals, and virtual regional final events, bringing together finalists via Microsoft Teams. Six teams, including a team of bright young minds from Kenya, were selected to move forward to the World Championship and present their projects to compete for the 2020 trophy on the biggest stage yet—the Microsoft Build 2020 digital event.
EMEA champions
The winning team, The Knights from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya, created an automated robot using artificial intelligence to identify and remove weeds from rows of crops. Their solution uses cameras as sensors to gather input from the environment and eliminate farmers’ need to use environmentally harmful pesticides in their weeding. As part of winning the regional finals, the team won 8000 USD each. Prizes also included Azure credits and a spot in the Imagine Cup World Championship event.
“Microsoft Imagine Cup has always aimed to empower students to use their imagination and passion for technology. To develop innovative and inclusive solutions that tackle key societal issues. This aligns directly with Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to providing students with the necessary resources and platforms to hone in on and grow their skillset. With an increasing focus on bringing the world together digitally, we’re continually encouraged by the projects young developers create to make a difference. We are also extremely proud of The Knights.Who by making it to the championship event, have reaffirmed Kenya and Africa’s immense potential to create solutions that directly address socio-economic needs within industries such as the agricultural sector,” says Kendi Nderitu, Country Manager for Microsoft in Kenya.
Microsoft Imagine Cup World Championship Competition
Held in virtual format this year in light of the health safety recommendations, World Finalists pitched their projects during Microsoft Build’s inaugural digital event.
This year’s event saw innovation experts spanning a variety of technology, diversity, and social change-centred experiences that align to the core of Imagine Cup’s mission as judges. These are; tech innovator and leader Dwana Franklin-Davis, CEO of Reboot Representation. She has worked to empower underrepresented groups in technology. Young innovators and CyberCode Twins, America and Penelope Lopez. Who have participated in tech competitions across the world and hope to introduce other students to opportunities in the field. Finally, Microsoft president Brad Smith. He leads work on a wide range of issues involving the intersection of technology and society. Including ethics and AI, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Kicking off the event with a short pitch of their projects in the lightning round, the judges selected Team Hollo from Hong Kong along with Team Syrinx from Japan and Team Tremor Vision from the United States to advance to the second and final round of the competition. Each of the top three teams then gave an in-depth presentation of their solutions. Assessed for their diversity, originality and innovative design.
Winners
Judges selected Team Hollo as the 2020 Microsoft Imagine Cup championship winners. The team, from the University of Hong Kong, won the grand prize. With a mental health companion web app leveraging Azure analytics and AI services to advance youth therapy practices. The grand prize included 100,000 USD, a mentoring session with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and 50,000 USD in Azure grants.
Also making it to the top-six position was Team RedWalls from Tunisia National Institute of Applied Science and Technology. With their I-Remember mobile application designed for the well-being of both the Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers.
Innovations from bright minds in Africa
“We are thrilled for Team Hollo and look forward to future updates surrounding their winning solution. At the same time, we are also encouraged by the sheer talent of all this year’s finalists. Who clearly put a lot of thought behind their unique tech innovations. As we continue to navigate through the Fourth Industrial Revolution, particularly in such uncertain times, I am confident we will continue to see innovations from young bright minds not only in Africa but the world over,” concludes Nderitu.
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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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