It’s started! The “1st. European Silverlight Challenge” is a digital design and development contest of new Rich Internet Applications with Silverlight technology. RIA is a new paradigm in making Web applications due to its support for a better user experience, allowing high quality video streaming, interactive games, applications and new forms of collaboration over the Internet. The Contest started in November in all European countries, locally, and ends the 31th of January, when the best Silverlight project of each participating country will enter in the European finals, where four people will get fabulous prizes to improve their skills and the recognition of all IT Community en Europe.
This European-wide event has been organized by INETA Europe in collaboration with Microsoft Corporation. INETA is a non-profit, independent organization chartered with supporting all user groups (professionals, companies and people involved with information technologies and their relationship whit the society) interested in Microsoft .NET Platform.
Hundreds of designers and developers from all over Europe are participating in this fascinating contest, in which they can demonstrate to the world the new possibilities of what’s been called Rich Internet Applications, or the new generation of the web, also known as Web 2.0.
The prizes are straightforward:

• MIX ’08 tickets with + travel and accommodation (MIX is an International kickoff meeting for launching the cutting-edge technical, creative and business strategists to engage Microsoft in a conversation about the future of the web, and is celebrated annually in Las Vegas, Nevada)
• Software licenses related with Web development, ASP.NET development books, XBOX 360, Smartphone’s, PDA…
  With this challenge, developers and designers all around Europe have no excuses to become Europe’s best RIA developers (in Silverlight). This competition will give them visibility, and the opportunity of being with the best RIA developers & designers at the MIX 2008 event, Las Vegas. Contestants participating in this competition have the chance of learning one of the RIA technologies with the most potential on the Web scene right now, using the tons of tutorials, blogs, videos, Web sites and other stuff provided in local portals with info about how to program Silverlight applications.

We currently have approximately 18 countries participating in the contest
Pass the word around and participate, the very best of Europe RIA developers could be YOU.

More Info: http://desafiosilverlight.bcndev.net/Default.aspx
The INETA Europe Team