Those worldwide finalists who wish to make the next step in the development of their idea were able to compete for Imagine Cup Grants, which are a part of Microsoft’s initiative YouthSpark. Amongst the entered projects, Microsoft chooses those with the greatest potential to contribute to solving social challenges in various fields such as health care, environment and human rights. The grants include financing support (100,000 USD for recipients of the main grant and 50,000 USD for other winners), as well as access to software, services of Microsoft’s innovative centres and premium access to the benefits of the programme Microsoft BizSpark.
Microsoft will also connect the recipients with potential investors and business partners.
‘‘With Imagine Cup Grants, we wish to help students develop their idea into a successful business story focused on solving important social challenges,’’ said David Vidmar, business manager in the field of development of applied solutions in the Slovenian Microsoft: ‘’Of course we’re thrilled that team ADORA succeeded in placing into this selected group of teams from Imagine Cup that have the best projects for a better life. We will help ADORA as much as possible on its business path.’’?
Team ADORA placed second at the worldwide finals of the competition Imagine Cup 2013, which took place June this year in the Russian St. Petersburg. This marked the best Slovenian ranking so far. Team members Boštjan Arzenšek, Andraž Leitgeb, Zedin Salkanović and Matej Vogrinčič studied at the University of Maribor, namely at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Their solution will help health institutions increase their effectiveness and optimise surgeries.
‘’The award is an important confirmation of our path and hard work, but mostly it confirms the understanding of the problem on a global level, since the committee who had chosen projects for grants was very experienced and multidisciplinary,’’ told Kristjan Košič, team mentor. ‘’The obtained resources will obviously be invested into further development and expansion to other hospitals in the region. This will help us obtain feedback information from users. In this phase of development, programme BizSpark will of course be very helpful, as it offers us free access to a whole range of development solutions, tools and knowledge. In January 2014, we will also register the company, which will have a registered seat in Venture Factory in Maribor.
Alongside the ADORA team, Imagine Cup grants will also be given to team OHS (Taiwan), which obtained the highest grant in the amount of 100,000 USD, and teams Confufish (Australia) and ROUK (Ireland).
About the competition Microsoft Imagine Cup
Imagine Cup is an international competition in the field of innovativeness, technological solutions and development at which students of higher-education institutions from the entire world participate. Students participate in teams that represent an individual faculty or a group of faculties. In the period before the competition and during the final selection, the group is accompanied by two mentors from the academic community and the economy, chosen especially for this purpose. According to good practice, students are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams and network between faculties, as well as to connect with economic subjects. The competition is a part of the initiative Microsoft YouthSpark.
The main partner of the Slovenian selection Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s innovation centre. The main organisers are members of the initiative Start:up Slovenia, while others non-governmental organisations and companies also participate in the selection. The general sponsor is Microsoft Slovenia.
Microsoft will also connect the recipients with potential investors and business partners.
‘‘With Imagine Cup Grants, we wish to help students develop their idea into a successful business story focused on solving important social challenges,’’ said David Vidmar, business manager in the field of development of applied solutions in the Slovenian Microsoft: ‘’Of course we’re thrilled that team ADORA succeeded in placing into this selected group of teams from Imagine Cup that have the best projects for a better life. We will help ADORA as much as possible on its business path.’’?
Team ADORA placed second at the worldwide finals of the competition Imagine Cup 2013, which took place June this year in the Russian St. Petersburg. This marked the best Slovenian ranking so far. Team members Boštjan Arzenšek, Andraž Leitgeb, Zedin Salkanović and Matej Vogrinčič studied at the University of Maribor, namely at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Their solution will help health institutions increase their effectiveness and optimise surgeries.
‘’The award is an important confirmation of our path and hard work, but mostly it confirms the understanding of the problem on a global level, since the committee who had chosen projects for grants was very experienced and multidisciplinary,’’ told Kristjan Košič, team mentor. ‘’The obtained resources will obviously be invested into further development and expansion to other hospitals in the region. This will help us obtain feedback information from users. In this phase of development, programme BizSpark will of course be very helpful, as it offers us free access to a whole range of development solutions, tools and knowledge. In January 2014, we will also register the company, which will have a registered seat in Venture Factory in Maribor.
Alongside the ADORA team, Imagine Cup grants will also be given to team OHS (Taiwan), which obtained the highest grant in the amount of 100,000 USD, and teams Confufish (Australia) and ROUK (Ireland).
About the competition Microsoft Imagine Cup
Imagine Cup is an international competition in the field of innovativeness, technological solutions and development at which students of higher-education institutions from the entire world participate. Students participate in teams that represent an individual faculty or a group of faculties. In the period before the competition and during the final selection, the group is accompanied by two mentors from the academic community and the economy, chosen especially for this purpose. According to good practice, students are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams and network between faculties, as well as to connect with economic subjects. The competition is a part of the initiative Microsoft YouthSpark.
The main partner of the Slovenian selection Imagine Cup is Microsoft’s innovation centre. The main organisers are members of the initiative Start:up Slovenia, while others non-governmental organisations and companies also participate in the selection. The general sponsor is Microsoft Slovenia.
