From developing an online platform through Azure that helps ease the devastation caused by floods in Australia, to performing medical operations using Kinect, to developing the next generation of teachers in the Middle East, people are doing amazing things with Microsoft technology. Microsoft Next is a new internal competition that was created to showcase how these innovations are helping people and communities around the world and offer the creators a chance to showcase their work on a global scale.

Today, 30 individuals have been singled out as the winners. To view these videos please visit this Microsoft Showcase site.

Inspired by his travels around the world, Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International, launched this program to highlight the impact people throughout the company are having on customers and partners through innovation.

The 3 minute video submissions were judged by a panel representing the depth of Microsoft’s business across Research and Innovation, Product Development, HR, Marketing and Sales, and our breadth across the globe, and also included two external judges from emerging markets that work with Microsoft’s BizSpark program. These nine judges shortlisted the 30 winners that they felt best represented ‘What’s Next’.

“Microsoft’s Next program represents some of the best work directly impacting Microsoft’s customers and partners around the globe,” comments Jean-Philippe Courtois. “I was inspired by these 30 winners, and am honored to share their work through this initiative.”