Software AG launches CeBIT 2013 idea contest for universities

AG's University Relations department has announced its global CeBIT 2013 idea contest for university students. The company has invited faculty and students from universities anywhere to submit creative proposals for a showcase project at CeBIT 2013. The project should highlight Software AG's business process optimization technology in a hands-on way. Ten thousand euros is available to implement the winning project.

Marco Gerazounis, Senior VP Middle East North Africa & Turkey, Software AG, said: “The competition is part of our commitment to promote a culture of innovation and creativity among students and to motivate them to aspire to excellence. We have already received a very enthusiastic response from academic institutions in the Middle East, which will be crucial in generating optimum participation from the brightest students in the region. Software AG is certainly very eager to continue to work with academic institutions particularly here in the Middle East as we aim to enhance the quality of education and produce more proficient and highly driven graduates.”

The complex software that Software AG develops and sells worldwide helps companies optimize business processes. For the most part, the advanced technology remains hidden behind the user interface and is therefore not explicitly anchored in the minds of potential customers. Students and professors from around the world are being called on to illustrate this complex issue from the business-to-business realm using a compelling model in order to concretely demonstrate the benefits that companies can gain from Software AG's portfolio. The winning model will be built for demonstration at the Software AG booth at CeBIT 2013 and presented to the CeBIT audience by the students.

The showcase at the last CeBIT—a model from the construction industry—was very popular with visitors. It showed how intelligent software helped transport building components and materials to the right place at exactly the right time for immediate construction. The fictional developer eliminated building delays through the real time control mechanisms presented via a dashboard.

This year's contest is now open, and interested parties can enter in writing to university@softwareag.com by July 31, 2012. The concept must be submitted by October 17. Winners will be notified on November 1 and will receive funding of €10,000 to implement the showcase project so it can be presented at CeBIT 2013, to be held March 5–9, 2013.