KATHMANDU, OCTOBER 19

Nepal's team ARISE, which was selected as one of the top 10 global winners at the Microsoft's 2022 Imagine Cup Junior AI for Good Challenge, has been recognised for their outstanding achievement by Microsoft Partner Connect event in Kathmandu.

Four students, including Aamod Paudel, Ayush Banjade, Bibas Basnet and Shaleen Kumar Dhital competed against thousands of students aged 13-18 from across the world earlier this year to solve some of the world's biggest issues using the power of AI.

Their winning submission ARISE – an AI-driven interactive application that uses motion and augmented reality to promote accessibility for chemistry lab equipment for individuals with disabilities – was celebrated by the Microsoft Southeast Asia New Markets leadership team, including General Manager, Sook Hoon Cheah.

Team ARISE's win marked an important indication of Nepal's growing talent pool of young innovators who have the potential to reach global heights with necessary guidance and support. Competitions such as the Microsoft Imagine Cup allow students to sharpen their existing skills and learn new ones to turn their imagination into solutions that can make a positive impact on society.

Md Yousup Faruqu, Country Managing Director for Microsoft Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, highlighted the importance of inspiring future tech talent in Nepal. 'We want to encourage more students in the field of technology and seize opportunities to compete in both local and international competitions. We are committed to increasing access to tech careers and fostering new talent pathway for the younger generation in Nepal and empower them to give back to their communities through innovation.'

A version of this article appears in the print on October 20, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.