IF YOU'RE looking to develop technology that makes people's lives better, you might as well set the bar high.

For nearly a decade, the Microsoft Imagine Cup has challenged students around the world to create solutions to major problems in society by using technology. Previous projects attempted to tackle malaria outbreaks, road deaths and forest fires.

This year, North East tech organisations Codeworks and Sunderland Software City are teaming up to encourage more people from the region to get involved.

Last week, events were held in both Newcastle and Teesside with Microsoft “developer evangelist” Ben Nunney to give out more information on the competition, and what the judges want. And they’ll be asked to do more than just turn up and listen on February 17 and 18, plunging into a 36-hour non-stop hack which will allow them to develop their projects.

Teams will be hoping to win cash, grants and prizes, and maybe a chance to appear at the Imagine Cup 2012 in Sydney, Australia. Talented technology experts who aren’t eligible are also being invited to mentor to the teams from the North East.

“It’s a worldwide competition, based on the thinking that young people can change the world”, said Codeworks communications executive Emilia Flockhart. “We’ve been in contact with all the institutions in the region, and we’d quite like to have teams from a lot of the different universities and colleges up here.”

This year’s theme is to create a project driven by the slogan: “Imagine a world where technology helps to solve the toughest problems”.

Organisers are encouraging participants to look at issues in their own communities, and even get inspiration from the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals, which include ending hunger and poverty, promoting gender equality, bringing universal primary education to everyone and combating widespread disease.

Go to www.imaginecupnortheast.co.uk for information