Microsoft Corporation has announced the first round of winners in the Ingenuity Point contest, which focuses on recognizing software solutions that are making a meaningful difference in the areas of education, healthcare and environmental sustainability. Independent software vendors (ISVs) from around the world are taking part in the competition and the three winners are: TR Control Solutions Limited (Education) of Surrey, United Kingdom, Tobii Technology AB (Healthcare) of Stockholm, Sweden, and OSIsoft Incorporated (Environmental sustainability) of San Leandro, California.
The three will be joined by a second round of three grand prize winners that will be announced after the second contest period ends on February 28, 2008. Microsoft will provide each of these companies with a variety of marketing tools and resources to help them increase the awareness of their respective solutions. The six vertical winners selected in both award rounds are eligible to be chosen as the Platinum Ingenuity Point Award winner, to be announced in spring 2008. In addition to receiving additional marketing support, the Platinum Award recipient will receive a coveted guest judge position at the Microsoft Imagine Cup 2008 competition to be held in Paris.
“Microsoft is inspired by the passion and innovation we’ve seen from ISVs around the world. ISVs want to be successful and be good global citizens at the same time. We’re excited to hold a competition that focuses on how companies are using Microsoft technologies to make an impact in the world. Ingenuity Point is part of our efforts to put the spotlight on some of the incredible work that we’ve seen from ISVs, and help those companies use their expertise to make a bigger impact,” said Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s chief environmental strategist and former general manager of the company’s Worldwide ISV group.
Link: IngenuityPoint Website (Thanks HappyAndyK)
