Unisys launches cloud contest for Indian students

BANGALORE, INDIA: Unisys India today announced the launch of ‘Cloud 20/20,’ a technical paper contest on cloud computing, for university students in India.

Aimed at catalyzing innovation in the areas of data-centre transformation, cloud computing, application modernization and cloud security, Cloud 20/20 will invite path-breaking ideas from leading engineering campuses in India, and recognize the best technical talent from these institutes.

Through Cloud 20/20, Unisys is seeking the input of post-graduate and research students excited by the possibilities and complexities of cloud computing, said a press release.

The contest is open to research students, post-graduates as well as pre-final and final year engineering students of Computer Science, Information Technology and other related areas of specialization, with a keen interest in research.

The contest would culminate in an event where five finalists will each have the opportunity to present their technical paper to a panel of distinguished judges, including distinguished  research scientist Bob Supnik, chief technology officer, Unisys Technology, Consulting and Integration Solutions; cloud computing expert Dr. Michael A. Salsburg, Chief Architect, Unisys Technology, Consulting and Integration Solutions;  and eminent academicians such as Dr. Shrisha Rao, Professor at IIIT Bangalore and Dr. D. Janakiram, Professor at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras.

“Cloud computing is ubiquitous and cuts across many technologies,” said Supnik. “I am delighted to be a part of the Cloud 20/20 initiative that will bring in new insights from academia, a community that can add immense value to our efforts in furthering the growth of this technology.”

Cloud 20/20 will be hosted in four stages – submission of abstracts, technical paper challenge, telephonic interviews and the final presentations in Bangalore on February 15, 2010.

Prizes would include an Apple Macbook Air laptop, N97 mobile phone and iPod. Winners will be given the opportunity to participate in internship projects and explore career opportunities with Unisys India, added the release.