A group of students from Mount Allison University was named the winner of the 2022 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge. The team was recognized at the 2022 Enactus Canada National Exposition Opening Ceremony on May 10^th for coming up with their innovative solution, Project Enviroot.

Project Enviroot was created in response to the University’s orange peel waste problem. Using Samsung ovens to dry out discarded orange peels, the team came up with a sustainable, non-toxic solution made from dried orange peels and an adhesive to use as an alternative to the current non-sustainable material found in campus softboards.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge combines the power of Samsung technology with the power of Enactus teams to develop viable solutions designed to meet a specific economic, social and/or environmental need such as education; sustainability; diversity, equality and inclusion; and mental health.

“We’ve been partnering with Enactus to host the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge since 2018, and each year, we’re blown away by the level of skill displayed by the students in leveraging technology to drive positive change in our communities. It’s clear what an important role technology plays in student learning, and we’re pleased to continue empowering future generations with the tools they need to achieve their fullest potential,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director of Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Canada.

Following their win, the Enactus team from Mount Allison University plans to work with local businesses to promote and expand the applications of their sustainable softboard solution.

For information on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, visit https://www.samsung.com/ca/sustainability/corporate-citizenship/solve-for-tomorrow/.

For the past three years, Samsung has partnered with Enactus Canada to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurial leaders through the Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Challenge. The annual challenge equips Enactus student teams across Canada with Samsung technology and funding, and challenges them to develop solutions geared towards specific economic, social or environmental needs in the community.

This winter, we caught up with two of our past winning teams from Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia and Memorial University in Newfoundland to learn more about how their projects have progressed since winning the SFT Challenge.

Enactus Saint Mary’s: Expanding Access with Project Square Roots

The Enactus Saint Mary’s Team, consisting of Kritika Gurung, Avantika Gupta and Maddie Bristol, won the 2020 Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Project Accelerator for their innovative idea behind Project Square Roots. Their project uses a token system to tackle the issues of food insecurity and food waste in Nova Scotia, by assigning tokens to customers that can be redeemed for meals. We spoke with the team on where they have taken their idea since last year.

Q: What did it mean to win “Best Project” in 2020?

A: Winning this award was a huge leap for our team as we had only dreamed that we’d be recognized as one of the top applications. Winning this award and drawing the attention of a leading tech company like Samsung, has given us the confidence to set and achieve goals we never thought we’d reach.

Q: How have you been able to grow Project Square Roots since then?

A: Since winning, we have officially launched our app on the App Store and recruited restaurants around Halifax to be a part of the program, including King of Donair!

Due to the closure of in-person dining last year, the app has been critical to the continued success of our idea, allowing us to launch virtual tokens and a live Meal Feature on our app. This new feature helps guarantee that customers will receive a meal in exchange for a token, allowing them to view available meals on the app and proceed to the desired location to pick them up.

Q: What are your next steps and upcoming areas of focus for Project Square Roots?

A: The Token App will undergo a relaunch with additional features and new partnerships from more restaurants. We anticipate that the application will serve up to 1000 people by the end of the year. We’re also looking to link our physical tokens with the app to use it as a database to keep track of usage and redemption rates.

While we’re currently operating just within Halifax, we’re looking to expand to other towns and provinces within Canada. The way the app has been structured allows restaurants to easily sign up and become part of the Token Program from any location.

Enactus Memorial University of Newfoundland: Taking Project HeartStarter to New Heights

Earlier this year, Diego Hernandez and Megan Hobbs of Memorial University of Newfoundland took home top honours at the Enactus National Exposition for Project HeartStarter, an idea that solves the need for immediate emergency medical care for cardiac arrest victims. Project HeartStarter delivers Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by drone, connecting patients with life-saving AEDs in under 3 minutes. Despite their relatively recent win, Diego and Megan spoke with us about the rapid advancements they’ve made on the project since then.

Q: What did it mean to win “Best Project” this year at the Enactus National Exposition?

A: For us, winning such a prestigious award showed that we were on the right track with our idea and that we had a real opportunity to transform the way healthcare operates in Canada. The guidance and prize money provided by Samsung allowed us to develop a sustainable plan for expansion.

Q: How have you been able to grow Project HeartStarter since winning?

A: Since winning the award, we have applied for approval from Transport Canada to further expand the project, our registry and education sessions. We’re extremely proud to say that we’ve logged over 500 AEDs and educated over 7,000 individuals on the importance of heart health. The PulsePoint AED app has also had over 4,360 downloads since spring, which is a significant milestone for us.

Q: What are your next steps and upcoming areas of focus for Project HeartStarter?

A: Our intention is to keep the momentum going and start advertising the three components of our program in the city of Corner Brook and town of Torbay next. We expect to receive approval from Transport Canada early next year, which will allow us to move forward on further expansion plans.

This year, Samsung and Enactus Canada are excited to be taking the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge one step further, empowering student teams to develop solutions to an expanded list of community needs in the areas of education, sustainability, diversity, equality & inclusion, and mental health.

For more information on how Samsung Canada is empowering the next generation through education, visit: http://csr.samsung.com/en-ca/localMain.do

Samsung Electronics Canada, in partnership with Enactus Canada, is excited to announce the top ten finalists of this year’s Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Challenge. Ten Enactus student teams will be awarded up to $5,000 in Samsung Technology Grants to help implement their projects ahead of the Enactus Canada National Exposition, where three winning teams will be announced.

The Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Challenge combines the power of technology with the power of Enactus to develop viable solutions that address specific economic, social or environmental needs including education, sustainability, diversity, equality and inclusion and mental health. This year’s finalists hail from universities across Canada and have been selected based on the potential of their projects to positively impact the lives of Canadians.

Top Ten Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Finalists:

• Project Tax Program, Brandon University: Their innovative tax program is designed to help ease the stress of doing tax returns for first-time students who have never had to do their own before, for free.
• True Grit, Durham College: Project True Grit is a wellness program consisting of in-person workshops and digital challenges, designed to help students overcome mental health challenges.
• Project United, Fleming College: Project United provides a solution to low student engagement and associated absenteeism through a series of learning modules and teacher consultations.
• Enviroot, Mount Allison University: Project Enviroot looks to improve the environmentally friendliness of the softboard building material by incorporating citrus-peel waste (and a natural binding agent).
• S-Tech, Ontario Tech University: Project S-Tech is a system that eliminates the need for soil by efficiently using nutrient-rich water that flows throughout the garden.
• InstaSerum, University of Alberta: Project InstaSerum is focused on developing a one-step testing kit to aid with early and fast cancer detection through the use of technologies such as 3D printers.
• The Urban Farm, University of Ottawa: Project Urban Farm is a zero-waste vending machine that provides convenient, guilt-free, and affordable meals to busy people in urban locations.
• Fraser Valley AgroConnect, University of the Fraser Valley: The Fraser Valley AgroConnect project is a free, online tool connecting farmers with relevant information to benefit their daily operations and wellness.
• TERRA, University of Toronto: Designed for students demonstrating an interest in leaving a smaller carbon footprint, Project TERRA is an educational app that promotes a carbon-conscious community through tracking, goal setting, games, and rewards.
• Grocery Gap, Nova Scotia Community College: The Grocery Gap Project takes used wooden pallets and reconstructs them into raised garden beds to provide a free source of food to marginalized communities.

Based on the outcomes of the participating teams’ initiatives, along with the quality of their final project submissions, three teams will be selected to receive SFT grand prize awards, prize money and additional technology grants to help further accelerate their projects.

For more information on how Samsung Canada is empowering the next generation through education, visit: http://csr.samsung.com/en-ca/localMain.do

Today, Samsung is excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2021 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, which combines the power of technology with the power of Enactus student teams across Canada. Since 2018, Samsung Canada and Enactus have partnered to empower students with insights, knowledge, and funding to help create innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This year’s challenge will empower students to work towards solving specific economic, social and/or environmental needs in their community, related to education, sustainability, diversity, equality & inclusion, and mental health.

“Enactus Canada is excited to expand its partnership with Samsung Canada to launch the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge, inspiring Canada’s next-gen business leaders to seek to implement technological innovations that can create a lasting, positive impact in their communities,” said Nicole Almond, President, Enactus Canada. “Not only is Samsung Canada a pioneering technology company that’s on the cutting edge of innovation, but they are also an excellent example of how technology can be used to help create a better world for us all. We here at Enactus Canada are thrilled to have Samsung Canada’s insights, expertise, and passion for a better world as a part of our Enactus community.”

Ten Enactus teams will be chosen to receive a Samsung Technology Grant, of up to $5,000, to support project implementation and evaluation. New this year, the Enactus teams will also receive the support of the Samsung Technology Advisory Council, made up of Samsung Canada employees, to help with their projects, while also providing a positive mentorship, learning and leadership experience for students.

“At Samsung, we believe in empowering future generations to achieve their full potential, enabling them to help pioneer positive social change and build a better world. We’ve been a key partner with Enactus since 2018 and we’re excited to continue this work, as it is clear what an important role technology plays in student learning,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director of Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Canada.

Based on the results of the participating Enactus teams’ initiatives over the school year, prizes will be awarded to the top three Enactus teams at the Enactus National Exposition in 2022.

For more information on how Samsung Canada is empowering the next generation through education, visit: http://csr.samsung.com/en-ca/localMain.do

For starters, what does Enactus do and what is your role within the organization?

Enactus is a national charity that is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada. We engage over 3,000 students on more than 70 campuses coast to coast. The Enactus network of business, academic and student leaders spans 35 countries and is unified by a single vision—to create a better, more sustainable world for us all.

As the President of Enactus Canada, I lead a passionate, entrepreneurial team of 12 that constantly strives to create more opportunities for our students to gain the skills, knowledge and experience they will need as the leaders of tomorrow!

Tell us a bit about the partnership between Enactus and Samsung Canada?

Samsung Canada has been a partner of Enactus Canada since 2019. We’ve worked together to empower Enactus teams with the resources they need to deliver innovative projects that use science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to help improve local communities.

This year, we are excited to take our partnership with Samsung Canada one step further with the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge. This year’s challenge will empower Enactus teams to develop solutions to a specific economic, social and/or environmental need in their community, such as education; sustainability; diversity, equality & inclusion; and mental health.

What have been some of the highlights of previous Solve For Tomorrow Challenges?

We’re proud of the extensive reach our partnership with Samsung has had, inspiring over 250 Enactus students to come up with solutions to community issues that have positively impacted more than 2,400 people. Through these projects, over 1,400 students were educated on the benefits of STEM and 14,000 people now have new or improved access to information, communication and technology. Project Square Roots and Project HeartStarter are two examples of the Samsung-sponsored community projects our Enactus teams have worked on.

Project Square Roots was created by Saint Mary’s University students to tackle the food security problem in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Square Roots works with restaurants to offer surplus meals that would otherwise go to waste, at a reduced price for people in need. Thanks to the partnership with Samsung Canada, Enactus Saint Mary’s developed the Square Roots Token App, which allows customers to purchase tokens on their phone, and present it to participating restaurants to redeem for a meal.

Project HeartStarter was created by Enactus students at Memorial University of Newfoundland to tackle the need for immediate emergency medical care, by creating a drone-powered Automated External Defibrillator (AED) delivery service. Their project transports life-saving AEDs via drones to cardiac arrest victims in under 3 minutes. This year, over 130 AEDs were logged for the province and the pilot drone is in development and testing.

What are you looking forward to for this year’s Solve For Tomorrow Challenge?

Everyone here at the Enactus Canada National office is extremely excited to expand our partnership with Samsung Canada through the Solve for Tomorrow Challenge. We’re eager to see how students from across Canada will develop innovative solutions this year to some of the world’s most pressing challenges!

What’s in store for the organization going forward?

Despite the uncertainty created by COVID-19, we saw more Enactus students engaged in the program this year. We know that participation in Enactus provides our students with the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in their communities, while gaining the experience, skills and contacts necessary to build their careers. We are excited to continue growing our program, impacting more students and engaging more schools across the country. We cannot wait to bring together our network again for our Expositions in 2022!

For more information on how Samsung Canada is empowering the next generation through education, visit: http://csr.samsung.com/en-ca/localMain.do

Over the last year and half, students, teachers and parents have relied on Samsung technology more than ever to facilitate virtual forms of learning. With Samsung’s commitment to supporting students through existing and new education-based partnerships, youth across the country will continue to receive the technology access they need to support their academic journey.

As Canadian students return to the classroom this fall, Samsung Canada commitment to learning remains strong through its extended education partnership with Autism Speaks Canada, a non-profit organization committed to building inclusive communities where autistic Canadians can reach their full potential. For the 2021-22 school year, Samsung will be donating 200 Chromebooks to schoolboards across Canada to give autistic children access to technology they may not otherwise have.

Through this partnership, Samsung has donated over 5,000 devices to autistic children and families in recent years, underscoring the positive impact technology can make.

“As the school year kicks off, we are looking forward to supporting students with a variety of technology solutions. We’re excited to continue this work and build on our education partnerships, as it is clear what an important role technology plays in student learning,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Electronics Canada.

Tapping into the creativity and ingenuity of Canada’s post-secondary students to help solve urgent social and environmental challenges, Samsung Canada is once again partnering with Enactus Canada to unveil a new “Solve For Tomorrow” challenge this fall, providing both technology donations and cash grants. Since launching Solve for Tomorrow in 2015 Samsung has connected with 1,400 schools and impacted more than 40,000 Canadian students.

Stay tuned for another educational partnership announcement this month as part of the Samsung pledge to give back to students. You can also learn more about Samsung Canada’s CSR programs at: http://csr.samsung.com/en-ca/localMain.do