18 finalist teams present innovative ideas of software applications based on ‘Digital Economy on the Cloud’
BANGKOK, 27 March 2015 – The Microsoft Imagine Cup Thailand, with support from partners including Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Kasikornbank (KBank), today unveiled its 18 finalist teams for the Games and World Citizenship competitions. Made up of more than 60 promising Thai student developers and aspiring entrepreneurs, the 18 finalist teams were shortlisted from more than 100 entries submitted from across Thailand.
More than 1.65 million students from more than 190 countries have participated in Imagine Cup since its inception. In the 13 years that the Imagine Cup has been running, Thailand has produced three overall global winners – in 2007, 2010 and 2012 – more than any other country. The national winners for Thailand will be announced on 29 April 2015 and they stand a chance to participate in the Imagine Cup World Finals, which will be held in Seattle in July 2015.
The 18 finalist teams of this year’s Imagine Cup Thailand are:
World Citizenship Competition |
|||
| Team | App | Theme of Application | |
| 1. | DEDI | Dedi | Others |
| 2. | JAMZ | Pra-Yard | Clean & Renewable Energy |
| 3. | Kanoon | Agro | Food Security & Climate Change Adaptation |
| 4. | Lens | Len-Nam | Aquaculture & Fisheries |
| 5. | ModThai | TouchClean | Clean & Renewable Energy |
| 6. | Snowflex | SearchSphere | Supporting Small & Medium Enterprises |
| 7. | The ECO | The ECO | Supporting Small & Medium Enterprises |
| 8. | Visionear | Visionear | Others |
| 9. | Winnie | Rai Dee | Food Security & Climate Change Adaptation |
Games Competition |
|||
| Team | App | Theme of Application | |
| 1. | Carbonage | Carbonage | Clean & Renewable Energy |
| 2. | CloverLeaf | Energy Savior | Clean & Renewable Energy |
| 3. | Compiler | Zurf | Clean & Renewable Energy |
| 4. | Fukutia | Fern 4G | Supporting Survivors of Trafficking in Persons |
| 5. | Kody | Heroes | Others |
| 6. | Mind Breaker | Escape Mind | Others |
| 7. | SIT_onTheChair | Trafficking me | Supporting Survivors of Trafficking in Persons |
| 8. | Sood Ting Kra Ding Meaw | Forestation | Forests & Sustainable Land Use |
| 9. | TeamBeta | Magical Lands | Others |
Applications developed for the Imagine Cup have consistently demonstrated the potential to create real impact to Thailand and the global community such as creating a shift in the technology industry, help overcome global challenges, or be turned into a successful business.
The Imagine Cup Thailand finalist teams developed proposals of software applications based on selected themes and engage users either in the form of a game or as part of a system or wearable device. The applications aim to increase awareness on key issues such as human trafficking, global energy crisis and outbreak of diseases, provide information on surroundings to the visually-impaired, or enable the growth of businesses in diverse industries such as agriculture and fisheries.
Furthermore to demonstrate the potential impact Thai youth has on the government’s Digital Economy vision, the teams were required to present the relevance of their applications to the overarching Imagine Cup Thailand theme of ‘Digital Economy on the Cloud’.
According to a report by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor[1], the world will need around half a billion jobs by 2030 to meet the rising numbers of young people joining the workforce each year. In order to address this challenge, reduce youth unemployment and underemployment, the public and private sectors need to encourage, educate and empower young entrepreneurs. To this end, Imagine Cup cultivates a spirit of entrepreneurialism throughout the year-long competition, creating opportunities for students to experience working as part of a cross-disciplinary team, learn best practices for launching a business, and get help in bringing their ideas to market.
Haresh Khoobchandani, Managing Director of Microsoft (Thailand) Limited, said, “The Microsoft Imagine Cup brings together the brightest young minds to exemplify the power of student innovation, empower them to realize their full potential, pursue bold dreams, and help them create real impact to society. And Thailand is no exception, even more so at this time when the Digital Economy is a strategy that will drive the growth of Thailand.
“Over the years, Imagine Cup has created several local success stories such as Suthat Rongraung of Team SuperLove Factory from Imagine Cup 2010, who is now a successful social entrepreneur; Team Ask DOM, who won the Innovation Competition at last year’s Imagine Cup and is now commercializing a social-listening cloud-based solution; and Pichai Sodsai of Team Skeek who won the Imagine Cup in the year 2010 and a co-founder of his very own startup today. Imagine Cup demonstrates how technology can enable the young to make the world a better place, and use technology to enable each and every one of us to do more and achieve more.”
The announcement today also marked the launch of Imagine Cup’s month-long campaign, Dare to Imagine for Thailand (#daretoimagineTH), engaging all Thais across the country’s popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. Starting today until 28 April 2015, all Thais are encouraged to express their most creative ideas in response to the central question: “If you can create an app for Thailand, what would it be?” Ideas can be submitted through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube with the #daretoimagineTH.
All #daretoimagineTH ideas submitted through social media from 27 March to 28 April 2015 will be polled to identify the types of apps most Thais would like to create. Additionally the most creative #daretoimagineTH application idea submitted through social media from 27 March to 28 April 2015 will also stand a chance to win a Microsoft Lumia smartphone. Findings from the #daretoimagineTH campaign and the most creative idea will be announced on 29 April 2015 via @MicrosoftTH (https://twitter.com/microsoftth), Thailand Imagine Cup Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/icthai) and Microsoft Thailand News Center (https://news.microsoft.com/th-th-stage/).
Sign up to receive the latest news on Microsoft Imagine Cup Thailand 2015
For the latest news and updates about Microsoft Imagine Cup Thailand 2015, please sign up for the Imagine Cup 2015 newsletter at www.imaginecup.com and follow the Imagine Cup Thailand competition at www.facebook.com/icthai.
[ENDS]
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Microsoft Thailand
Established in 1993, Microsoft (Thailand) Limited aims to Make 70 Million Lives Better by enabling Thai people and businesses to realize their full potential through technology that transforms the way people work, play, and communicate. We offer software, services, and devices that deliver new opportunities, greater convenience, and enhanced value to people’s lives. Working with communities and the Thai government, Microsoft and its partners are committed to working closely with organizations and people across Thailand to fully harness the power of technology and innovation.
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft (Thailand) website at http://www.microsoft.com/thailand, or keep track of the latest updates through the Microsoft Thailand News Center (https://news.microsoft.com/th-th-stage/) and Twitter (@MicrosoftTH).
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and / or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For further information, (press) please contact:
Pornravee Suramool or Cheryl Yab
Hill+Knowlton Strategies Thailand
Tel: 0-2627-3501 ext. 110, 206 or 081-735-9213, 098-272-4077
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]