Sao Paulo, Brasil - September 18, 2009
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The Dow Microsoft Sustainability Challenge is an initiative of the two companies, global leaders in their respective industries, aiming to spread concepts of sustainability among students and lead them to actively reflect on relevant issues related to the future of planet Earth. As a result of a unique partnership, the Challenge was inspired by the Imagine Cup™, an annual competition for students organized by Microsoft that incorporates the Millennium Development Goals, from the United Nations (UN), as its theme.
For the Dow Microsoft Sustainability Challenge, the theme was chosen to reflect Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, established to improve product management, reduce environmental impacts and help to solve some of the world’s main environmental challenges, maintaining the Company's commitment to customers and society.
"Innovation, sustainability and people-focus are three key elements in Dow’s strategy. With this challenge, we are inviting young talents to aid in the search of innovative solutions to solve an important issue for the future of our planet," said Pedro Suarez, president of Dow Latin America and president of Dow Brazil. "The excellence of Microsoft, their experience in challenges such as the Imagine Cup™ and the interests of both companies in sustainability and talent development made a perfect partnership for theDow Microsoft Sustainability Challenge."
Dow encourages the development of student talent in science and technology around the world, maintaining various socio-educational programs in the communities where the Company operates. The new Dow Microsoft Challenge is aligned with Dow’s initiatives such as the Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge, conducted at six key strategic universities globally, including Brazil’s Universidade de São Paulo (USP), recognizing innovations that address global sustainability challenges.
More on the Challenge
The Dow Microsoft Sustainability Challenge, launched on Friday (9/18), will receive applications until January 31, 2010. Application forms and the Challenge’s rules are available at www.desafiodowmicrosoft.com.br. The winners will be announced on the website on April 2010, and the award ceremony will be held in São Paulo, on a date to be confirmed in the month of May 2010.
The winning project in the software category will be awarded with a notebook Sony Vaio VGN SR350 and the winner in the digital media category will win a 32” LED TV. The second and third places in each category will also be awarded, and all the six best projects will earn recognition certificates.
The Challenge’s jury will be composed by professionals from Dow Brazil and Microsoft, as well as representatives from the academic community. The projects will be evaluated separately by category, covering criteria such as innovation, alignment to the theme, technical quality and measurement of the positive impact caused by the project.
About Dow
About Microsoft
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Founded in 1989, Microsoft Brazil generates local direct job and business opportunities in the technology field for more than 18 thousand companies and 495 thousand professionals. In the past six years, the company invested more than R$ 100 million in social projects in Brazil, bringing technology to public schools, universities, NGOs and poor communities. It is one of 107 subsidiaries of Microsoft Corporation, a global leader in software, services and solutions in information technology founded in 1975. With an innovation based business model, Microsoft invests in the development and integration of technologies that help people and businesses achieve their full potential.
For Editorial Information:
Laila Pinheiro
The Dow Chemical Company
+55 1151889036
Rafael Presilli
Ketchum Estratégia
+55 1150908969
rafael.presilli@ketchum.com.br
