According to Microsoft, in excess of 100,000 students took part in its 2007 Imagine Cup. Participants came from no less than 100 countries around the world to compete in the Redmond company's student technology challenge. The initial volume of competitors has been filtered and only a total of 350 students from 59 countries will go head-to-head in the Worldwide Finals in Seoul, Korea. As is the case with every edition, the contest is focused on a single aspect in which technology can be implemented into real life scenarios, and this year, the theme of the Imagine Cup competition was "Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all."

"The Imagine Cup epitomizes Microsoft's belief in inspiring the next generation of technology, business and entrepreneurial leaders," says Joe Wilson, Microsoft's director of academic initiatives. "These are the best and the brightest student minds from around the world. The solutions they have built to compete in the Imagine Cup can literally make a difference in the world."

Microsoft even presented the success stories of two of the past year's competition winners. The 2003 Imagine Cup winner Tu Nguyen managed to turn his idea into a lucrative business that is already returning in excess of $1 million in revenue per year. Nguyen's creation helps restaurant workers function together across linguistic barriers. The 2005 Imagine Cup winners Stan Vonog and Nick Surin from Russia came up with a method of allowing musicians to perform in high quality jam sessions across the Internet, independent of their actual geographical location.

"The Imagine Cup, now in its fifth year, challenges students to imagine a better world enabled by their own talent and also to contribute directly to the future of technology, software and computing. Teams develop innovative technological and artistic projects that offer real-world solutions to real-world problems. Additionally, Imagine Cup compliments Microsoft's Unlimited Potential commitment to create social and economic opportunity through programs and products that transform education, foster local innovation and enable jobs and opportunities worldwide," Microsoft added.