Computer brains gather in Stockholm for world challenge finals

Sponsored by IBM and hosted by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, this is the 33rd World ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, in which the planet's top 100 three-person teams will be asked to build systems to solve a dozen problems modelled on real world business challenges. According to the organisers, typical problems range from cracking complex password codes to re-architecting space plans – all designed to challenge the students' problem-solving savvy and business acumen. Doug Heintzman, director of strategy at IBM Software Group, and ICPC sponsorship executive, explains that the team that solves the most problems correctly in the least time will win scholarships, bragging rights and prizes from IBM. "Our world gets smaller every day, requiring a highly-skilled, interconnected workforce with the flexibility to span time zones and cultures," he comments. "The ICPC helps students enhance their critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration skills, while at the same time helping them embrace their roles as future global leaders." More than 7,109 teams representing 1,838 universities from 88 countries competed in the autumn regional competitions last year, compared to 840 teams in 1997, when IBM first sponsored the competition.