Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. has announced the launch of the 2025/2026 Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a nationwide initiative challenging Canadian students in grades 6–12 to use STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) to develop real-world solutions that make a meaningful impact in their communities.

Canadian youth are eager to develop STEM skills, yet classrooms are not resourced to support in a meaningful way. Solve for Tomorrow aims to address this gap by creating hands-on, applied experiences that help students develop the skills they need for the future.

State of STEM in Canada: Data Snapshot

• 98 per cent of Canadians say it is important for youth to develop STEM skills
• Only 40 per cent believe schools have the resources to prepare students for STEM careers, with nearly two in three expressing that schools are not well equipped with the tools needed
• 90 per cent say hands on experiences spark student interest in STEM*

Now in its 11th year, Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow offers a unique opportunity for youth to engage further with STEM concepts. The contest has reached over 40,000 students across Canada and contributed more than one million dollars in technology and grants to empower future leaders through innovation.

Even as career pathways expand, many young people face hard limits on access. 40 per cent of Canadians feel schools are not well equipped to provide youth with the tools and knowledge needed for future careers, while 47 per cent of Canadians point to the cost of higher education as the biggest barrier to pursuing STEM studies.* Concerns around confidence, inclusivity, and equitable access compound the challenge, narrowing the number of students who feel able to participate in these fast-growing fields.

Solve for Tomorrow encourages students to explore STEM in new ways by offering a challenge that sparks creativity and real-world problem-solving.

“Solve for Tomorrow represents more than a program; it’s a catalyst for systemic change,” said Tafari Jilany, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Canada.  “Canadians are aligned on the value of STEM, and the data highlights a clear need for more hands-on learning and stronger support for youth. Our focus is to give students the tools to explore, experiment and contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive and connected future.”

Canadians are calling for applied STEM and AI education that connects classrooms with real-world problem solving. 89 per cent of Canadians support partnerships that make STEM education more practical, and many see them as essential preparation for future careers.*

Designed to put a spotlight on STEM, the Solve for Tomorrow contest will help do the following:

• Integrate STEM with practical real-world applicability, helping to create long-term educational impact

• Inspire diverse student participation, helping to highlight opportunity gaps in STEM education

• Accelerate community-led problem solving, challenging students to turn local insights into broader solutions

Key Highlights

The annual competition is designed to foster STEM-based innovation to solve real-world problems.

• Who: Canadian students in grades 6-12 (teachers submit applications on their behalf).
• When: Teachers can register their teams’ interest and learn more about the program, with opportunities for early recognition and prizes, through submitting via this link. The official submission period for student-written applications will open on January 12,

Prizes: 

• Eight finalist schools will each receive a $5,000 E-Voucher (taxes not included) that they can use towards the purchase of Samsung technology.
• The top three winning schools will be awarded a $50,000 (first place), $20,000 (second place), and $10,000 (third place) E-Voucher (taxes not included) that they can use towards the purchase of Samsung technology. An additional $5,000 will be given to the Fan Favourite winner.

*Disclaimer:
Based on a 2025 randomized quantitative online survey conducted by Edelman Public Relations Worldwide Canada Inc. of 1,510 individuals across Canada comprised of adults who are 18+, 390 parents of children under the age of 18, and 259 elementary school educators/professionals.

Today, Samsung Canada announced St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School from Morrisburg, ON as the winner of its Solve for Tomorrow Contest, a nationwide competition which asks schools to submit innovative ideas using STEM to solve sustainability challenges facing our communities. At a special ceremony this afternoon, St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School was crowned “The School for Tomorrow” and will take home the grand prize of $50,000 to support STEM learning in classrooms.

After hundreds of entries from coast-to-coast, St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School was recognized by Samsung Canada’s panel of expert judges for their innovative solution to support the everyday shift to sustainable energy sources through a hydrogen generator suitable for residential and commercial use.

“We are thrilled to name St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School as the winner of our Solve for Tomorrow Contest. This school demonstrated the innovation, bright ideas, and impressive thinking that has defined this competition for over a decade,” said Jihoon Lee, President, Samsung Electronics Canada. “On behalf of Samsung Canada, we are proud to support the future of STEM learning at St. Mary St. Cecilia and all Canadian schools. Along with all our finalist teams, this school will no doubt make a strong impact on our communities and help build a sustainable future for years to come.”

“We are so thankful to Samsung Canada and judges for choosing SMSC Energizers hydrogen generator as the winning team,” said Laura Ferguson and Blair Fitzsimon, educators at St. Mary St. Cecilia Catholic School. “Winning means that we can create and build more sustainable projects at our school for all students to enjoy!”

In addition to the winning school team, Samsung Canada also announced the second and third place winners, along with the Solve for Tomorrow Fan Favourite, who are chosen by the public.

Second Place: Lincoln Alexander Public School in Ajax, ON for an innovative water treatment filter technology solution to solve the lack of access to clean drinking water affecting rural and Indigenous communities.

“Being able to see students think critically about the world around them and leverage STEM to create and innovate solutions that have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people world wide has been a pleasure to watch. Thank you, Samsung – the future is certainly bright!” said Ashley Feeney, educator at Lincoln Alexander Public School.

Third Place and Fan Favourite Award Recipient: St. Peter High School in Ottawa, ON for their ‘smart’ garden living classroom which aims to drive environmental stewardship at their school and build interest in sustainable food practices.

“Winning this competition means the world to us, as it proves that our ideas and hard work can make a real difference and inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of innovation,” says Kara Dainty and Bridget Thompson, student at St Peter High School.

Samsung Canada is committed to empowering future generations to achieve their full potential, and build a brighter tomorrow for our communities across Canada. For over a decade, Samsung has celebrated youth innovation for positive social change through the Solve for Tomorrow Contest.

For more information on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, visit Samsung.com/ca/Solve.