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.

Samsung Canada today unveiled the top 12 regional finalist schools in the 10^thannual Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition[1], a national initiative that challenges students to apply Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) to solve real-world challenges in their communities. With a total of $125,000 in prizing across all finalists and winners, this year’s competition is focused on three key themes: sustainability, equity-seeking groups and health.

“It’s truly inspiring to see the ingenuity and creativity shown by these bright young minds,” said Brian Shin, Samsung Electronics Canada Inc. President & CEO. “At Samsung, we are committed to fostering STEM education that goes beyond the classroom—one that empowers students to transform their communities and solve global challenges. These students are envisioning a better future and actively building it.”

The top 12 regional finalist schools include:

• Aldershot School (Burlington, ON): Employing the quantum monte-carlo method, students proposed a more effective method to identify faults in photovoltaic farms.
• Allan A. Martin Senior Public School (Mississauga, ON): To avoid the environmental consequences of mining lithium for batteries, students proposed creating aqueous magnesium batteries as a more sustainable alternative.
• Bishop Reding Catholic Secondary School (Milton, ON): To reduce food waste and food insecurity, students proposed an app to connect individuals in need to businesses donating excess meals or groceries.
• École Publique aux Quatre Vents (Parry Sound, ON): Recognizing a lack of proactive methods to detect issues in the ocean, students proposed the development of a smart buoy to track the conditions of the Georgian Bay in real-time.
• Elsie MacGill Secondary School (Milton, ON): As an alternative to fossil fuels, students proposed kinetic plates to convert kinetic energy to electricity to sustainably power homes and their city.
• Grandview Heights Secondary School (Surrey, BC): To raise awareness to the dangers of vaping, students proposed to create an app to evaluate lung health and encourage users to quit through the tracking of streaks.
• Merivale High School (Nepean, ON): To prevent electricity waste, students proposed a smart lighting system with a machine learning module that adjusts to environmental conditions and user preferences.
• Port Credit Secondary School (Mississauga, ON): To reduce the reliance on HVAC systems, students proposed creating heat-absorbing bricks that would release the stored heat during peak energy usage hours.
• Saint John Paul II Catholic Secondary School (Scarborough, ON): To reduce plastic waste, students proposed a recycling system to convert plastics in usable 3D print filaments.
• STEM Innovation Academy High School (Calgary, AB): To promote increased autonomy for wheelchair users, students proposed a headband that reads the user’s brain waves to operate the wheelchair.
• Thomas A. Blakelock High School (Oakville, ON): To reduce the instances of marine bycatch, students proposed magnetized fishing nets that sends warning signals to repel sharks.
• Unionville High School (Markham, ON): Acknowledging the declining number of Ontario’s farms and farmers, students proposed an AI-powered farming app to enhance efficiency and sustainability while relieving the work load of farmers.

The top 12 schools will now advance to the next stage of the competition, where they will collaborate with Samsung mentors to refine their project ideas, as well as gain expert insights and strategic feedback on their proposed solutions. As part of their development, they will also attend a Design Thinking masterclass led by The Knowledge Society, equipping them with advanced problem-solving skills. To compete for one of the four (4) available spots as a national finalist, each top 12 regional finalist will submit a five-minute video presentation of their idea, which will be evaluated by a panel of judges in April 2025.

To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, the finalist projects, and how Samsung is shaping the future of STEM in Canada, visit www.samsung.com/ca/solve

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[1] Terms and Conditions apply. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest begins on12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.Open to residents of Canada who are twenty one (21) years of age or older and are currently employed as full-time teachers in a public Middle School, Junior High School, or High School, grades 6-12, including Charter Schools that are 50% or more publicly funded in Canada. All Canadian publicly funded schools are eligible to participate. Schools that are publicly funded but outside of the provincially-run school board/district/division system, such as Charter Schools in Alberta and Federally-funded schools in FNMI communities, are eligible to apply if they meet the grade requirements. A full-time teacher, as defined above, is eligible to enter the Contest as part of a team with at least one (1) or more students up to a maximum of fifty (50) students (the “Participant”). The Contest is divided into three phases. Phase One requires teams to submit a written entry through the registration link on samsung.com/ca/solve between 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) on October 15, 2024 and 11:59:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2025. Twelve (12) Regional Finalist teams will be selected on or about February 19, 2025 by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the selection criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules. Each eligible Regional Finalist will receive a Samsung Voucher to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products, with a total value of $2,500 per selected team. During Phase Two, each Regional Finalist team will be required to submit a video between February 20, 2025 at 12:00:01 a.m. EST and March 28, 2025 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST to be eligible. All eligible submissions received will be judged by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules, and four (4) National Finalists will be selected. Each eligible National Finalist will receive a Samsung Voucher to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products, with a total value of $5,000 per selected team. Phase Three requires each National Finalist team to make a presentation to judges on their Project based on the criteria provided by Sponsor (the “Presentation”). All eligible Presentations will be judged by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules, and one (1) Grand Prize Winner, and two (2) Runner Up Winners will be selected. The eligible Grand Prize Winner and Runner Up Winners shall receive winning prizes as follows: Grand Prize Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $50,000; First Runner Up Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $10,000; Second Runner Up Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $10,000. The videos of all four (4) National Finalists will exhibited on samsung.com/ca/solve, and eligible members of the general public will be permitted to vote on their favourite National Finalist Entry. Voting will be open from 12:01:01 a.m. EST April 15, 2025 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on, April 28, 2025 (“Public Voting Period”). The eligible National Finalist who receives the most qualifying votes will be awarded Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $5,000. All prizes will be made payable to the Participant’s school for use by the winning teacher. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of entries received during each phase. Must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question to win. For more information and a copy of the full Official Contest Rules, visit samsung.com/ca/solve.

Solve for Tomorrow Contest[i], Samsung’s annual corporate social responsibility program and nationwide competition, encourages Canadian students in grades 6 – 12 to develop innovative solutions to address pressing challenges facing their communities. St. Mary-St. Cecilia Catholic School in Morrisburg, Ontario won the 2023 competition with their hydrogen generator prototype, a device that supports the shift to sustainable energy sources for residential and commercial buildings. We sat down with the teachers of the winning team, Blair Fitzsimons and Laura Ferguson, to discuss their experiences.

Inspiration: What made you want to enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest?

Many reasons! Above all, competitions like this empower students to drive change in the world.  Students do not have to wait until adulthood to solve messy problems; they simply need to be given the opportunity. This is what we try to do every day in the classroom: to empower the leaders and changemakers of tomorrow. As educators, we need to give kids the opportunity to do the things they believe are impossible.  In my experience, they will do unimaginable things that you never thought possible, if given the chance.

Team Dynamics: How did you organize and manage the student team during the development of the hydrogen generator?

The key to success is focusing the kids on small achievable goals, followed by celebration.  With a project like this, it can become easily overwhelming, especially for students.

I am a firm believer in creating opportunities where students can experience child-sized adversity or crisis. There, they begin to ponder approaches or solutions without the limitations that we as adults approach problem solving. It also makes each individual success or contribution from a student much more significant.

From prototype to prototype, we would take the lessons learned and apply it to our next iteration. We also researched the mathematical principles for hydrogen generation, to validate our designs with actual numbers. The dynamic was playful and fun, but also with a managed timeline to ensure we reached our goals.

Highlight: What was your high point from the whole experience?

My highlight was certainly the final five awards ceremony. Being a small school in rural eastern Ontario, the students really struggled to understand how significant their work was.  As grade six students, I felt that they never truly believed that they could beat high school level teams. On awards ceremony day, surrounded by parents, friends and teachers, they, for the first time, realized their awesome potential after receiving such amazing recognition.  The cheers, the tears and the clapping as they danced and celebrated on center stage was a special moment in my career.

Educational Impact: How has participating in the contest impacted your students’ interest in STEM or their future plans?

As teachers, we try to plant seeds of inspiration and excitement for STEM learning.  Oftentimes, we never get to see that seed blossom or produce fruit; we are just one step along their journey. I truly believe that these students will go on to accomplish amazing things because they were given the opportunity to discover their true potential as change makers, through this competition.

Advice for Teachers: What would you like to share with teachers participating in the 2025 contest?

I would encourage other educators to walk with students and be co-learners. Take their ideas seriously and find ways to make what you believe is impossible possible. I would say take the leap and trust in your abilities to manage the chaos of an oftentimes messy learning journey.

Long-Term Vision: Where do you see this project heading in the next five to ten years?

We have done so much of the preliminary work but now need experts to take this to the next level of trials and prototyping.  Hydrogen technologies are only now being considered as a viable alternative to energy production and storage and we feel ours can make a difference. We believed that, as Canadians, we all have a shared responsibility to fight climate change.

To learn more about Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest, see here.

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[i] Terms and Conditions apply. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest begins on12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.Open to residents of Canada who are twenty one (21) years of age or older and are currently employed as full-time teachers in a public Middle School, Junior High School, or High School, grades 6-12, including Charter Schools that are 50% or more publicly funded in Canada. All Canadian publicly funded schools are eligible to participate. Schools that are publicly funded but outside of the provincially-run school board/district/division system, such as Charter Schools in Alberta and Federally-funded schools in FNMI communities, are eligible to apply if they meet the grade requirements. A full-time teacher, as defined above, is eligible to enter the Contest as part of a team with at least one (1) or more students up to a maximum of fifty (50) students (the “Participant”). The Contest is divided into three phases. Phase One requires teams to submit a written entry through the registration link on samsung.com/ca/solve between 12:00:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (“EST”) on October 15, 2024 and 11:59:59 p.m. EST on January 31, 2025. Twelve (12) Regional Finalist teams will be selected on or about February 19, 2025 by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the selection criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules. Each eligible Regional Finalist will receive a Samsung Voucher to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products, with a total value of $2,500 per selected team. During Phase Two, each Regional Finalist team will be required to submit a video between February 20, 2025 at 12:00:01 a.m. EST and March 28, 2025 at 11:59:59 p.m. EST to be eligible. All eligible submissions received will be judged by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules, and four (4) National Finalists will be selected. Each eligible National Finalist will receive a Samsung Voucher to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products, with a total value of $5,000 per selected team. Phase Three requires each National Finalist team to make a presentation to judges on their Project based on the criteria provided by Sponsor (the “Presentation”). All eligible Presentations will be judged by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the criteria stated in the full Official Contest Rules, and one (1) Grand Prize Winner, and two (2) Runner Up Winners will be selected. The eligible Grand Prize Winner and Runner Up Winners shall receive winning prizes as follows: Grand Prize Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $50,000; First Runner Up Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $10,000; Second Runner Up Winner – Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $10,000. The videos of all four (4) National Finalists will exhibited on samsung.com/ca/solve, and eligible members of the general public will be permitted to vote on their favourite National Finalist Entry. Voting will be open from 12:01:01 a.m. EST April 15, 2025 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on, April 28, 2025 (“Public Voting Period”). The eligible National Finalist who receives the most qualifying votes will be awarded Samsung Vouchers to purchase Samsung technology, and/or select Samsung products with a combined total value of $5,000. All prizes will be made payable to the Participant’s school for use by the winning teacher. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of entries received during each phase. Must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question to win. For more information and a copy of the full Official Contest Rules, visit samsung.com/ca/solve.

After a nationwide search, Samsung Canada has announced the five finalist schools in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest[1]. Evaluated by Samsung’s panel of expert judges, the five schools were selected for their bold, innovative solutions to solve environmental challenges affecting communities, and make a difference in the efforts against climate change.

In recognition of their achievement, each school will receive $5,000 towards brand new Samsung technology to support and enhance STEM learning in their classrooms, and to help them continue formulating their plans and submissions. Upon the second round of judging, the grand prize winner will receive $50,000 and be named ‘The School for Tomorrow.’

The five finalist schools are:

• Lincoln Alexander Public School (Ajax, ON): To solve the lack of access to clean drinking water that affects many rural and Indigenous communities, this team proposed an innovative water treatment filter technology that would connect to household taps.
• Saint Augustine Catholic School (Markham, ON): To promote sustainable airline practices, this team proposed to build a Canada-made-contrail projection model that considers flight path and jet fuel to reduce the industry’s harm on climate change.
• St Peter High School (Ottawa, ON): To help drive environmental stewardship at their school and build interest in sustainable food practices, this team proposed a high-tech ‘smart’ garden to serve as a living classroom for plant health and soil monitoring.
• Riverview High School (Riverview, NB): To promote sustainable construction practices, this team proposed leveraging STEM and smart home technology for a fully sustainable home, easily implemented into their local community.
• St Mary St Cecilia Catholic School (Morrisburg, ON): To support the everyday shift to sustainable energy sources, this team proposed a hydrogen generator suitable for residential and commercial use.

“This year’s Solve for Tomorrow finalists demonstrated remarkable innovation combined with a determination to make an impact on both a local and national scale,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics Canada. “These ideas are a testament to the passion of Canadian students and why STEM learning and environmental stewardship in schools are of the utmost importance. We’re proud to  continue our commitment to the future of STEM by supporting the schools with Samsung technology.”

The finalists will now create a video submission further detailing their ideas, and receive dedicated mentorship sessions to help refine their submissions from Tovah Barocas, CEO, Earth Rangers and 2023-24 Solve for Tomorrow judge.

To learn more about Solve for Tomorrow, please visit Samsung’s website.

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[1] Terms and Conditions apply. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest begins on Monday, November 27, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ends on June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Open to residents of Canada (excluding Quebec residents) who are twenty one (21) years of age or older and are currently employed as full-time teachers in a public Middle School, Junior High School, or High School, grades 6-12, including Charter Schools that are 50% or more publicly funded in Canada. All Canadian publicly funded schools (except those registered and located in Québec) are eligible to participate. Schools that are publicly funded but outside of the provincially-run school board/district/division system, such as Charter Schools in Alberta and Federally-funded schools in FNMI communities, are eligible to apply if they meet the grade requirements. A full-time teacher, as defined above, is eligible to enter the Contest as part of a team with at least one (1) student or more up to a maximum of fifty (50) students (the “Participant”). The Contest is divided into two phases. Phase One requires teams to submit a written entry through the registration link on samsung.com/ca/solve between Monday, November 27, 2023 12:01 a.m. EST and Thursday, February 29, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “Contest Entry Period”). Five (5) Finalist teams will be selected on or about Friday, March 15, 2024 by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the selection criteria stated in the full Contest Terms and Conditions. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of contest entries received during the Contest Entry Period. Each Finalist will receive a Samsung Voucher with a total value of up to $5,000 per team. During Phase Two, each Finalist team will be required to submit a video between Monday March 18, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “Final Judging Period”). All eligible submissions received will be judged by a panel of six (6) qualified judges selected by Samsung based on the criteria stated in the full Contest Terms and Conditions, and three (3) Winners will be selected. Odds of winning depend upon the total number of videos received during Phase Two. The three (3) Winners shall receive winning prizes consisting of the following elements based on their final place: First Place – $50,000 cash prize (by way of a cheque), Second Place $10,000 cash prize (by way of a cheque), Third Place – $10,000 cash prize (by way of a cheque). The videos of all five (5) Finalists will exhibited on samsung.com/ca/solve, and members of the general public will be permitted to vote on their favourite Finalist Entry. Voting will be open from Monday, May 6, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and will close on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST. The Finalist who receives the most qualifying votes will be awarded a cash prize of $5,000 (by way of a cheque). All prizes will be made payable to the Participant’s school for use by the winning teacher. Must correctly answer a mathematical skill-testing question to win. For more information and a copy of the full Contest Terms and Conditions, visit samsung.com/ca/solve.

Samsung’s passion for innovation has been the driving force behind our journey. Over the decades, we’ve pioneered countless technological advancements that have transformed the way people live, work and connect. From groundbreaking developments in consumer electronics to cutting-edge solutions in semiconductor technology, we’ve consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible.

This commitment to innovation is deeply intertwined with our belief in co-prosperity. We recognize that true progress cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires collaboration, partnership and a shared vision for a brighter tomorrow. Our innovations are not just about creating products. In my three years as Samsung Electronics North America President and CEO, I have experienced firsthand how they’re about creating opportunities, empowering individuals and driving positive change in society.

Our citizenship work is firmly rooted in our aspiration to empower future generations to achieve their full potential. We are devoted to pioneering positive social change, demonstrating our commitment through programs and acts of service in classrooms and communities. This unwavering dedication has been a guiding light in our journey.

Our Commitment to STEM Education

One of the key pillars of our citizenship vision is our dedication to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education and empowering our future generation as leaders. As one of the largest technology companies in the world, we embrace the stewardship required to advance STEM to the forefront of education. We believe it is our duty, even our obligation, to contribute to STEM literacy and inspire more people to pursue STEM education and careers. In fact, Samsung Electronics North America has made STEM education a prominent part of our corporate agenda, actively investing in programs that educate and uplift the next generation of diverse thinkers, innovators, changemakers and activists.

In 2010, we took a meaningful role in boosting interest, proficiency and diversity in STEM with our flagship citizenship program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Not only is it our most successful North American citizenship program, Solve for Tomorrow was first created in the U.S. by Samsung Electronics America and then adopted as the largest Samsung citizenship program around the world.

Emphasizing problem-based learning (PBL) and social impact entrepreneurship, this multi award-winning national competition challenges U.S. public school students to explore the role STEM can play in solving significant issues in their local communities. Personally, hosting the finals in D.C. last Spring was a highlight, as I got to interact with students and see first-hand the passion and creativity of young minds dedicated to solving real-world challenges through STEM. It excites me to know that STEM classrooms across the country look forward to and plan for the start of each competition year.

Beyond the annual competition itself, Solve for Tomorrow has branched out, becoming a community and giving rise to a series of offshoot programs that support stakeholders groups:

• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Employee Mentors: Solve for Tomorrow engages and energizes Samsung’s North American workforce through a volunteer employee mentor program providing participating schools real-world insights from our incredible tech practitioners and through employee voting to pick a national Employee Choice award winner. The mentoring roles especially have been a great source of pride for our employees.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Teacher Academy: Launched in 2019, this immersive professional development program enhances STEM teaching for educators who have participated in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in the U.S. It equips them with skills, such as PBL, design-thinking, empathy development, environmental stewardship, and social impact entrepreneurship. Over the past five years, Teacher Academy has positively impacted more than 250 educators, who in turn inspired over 7,500 American STEM learners.
• Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Alumni Network: The Alumni Network is an online community for the curious-minded. The community consists of Solve for Tomorrow students, teachers other highly motivated hand raisers in North America that are sharing ideas on how to creatively engage students about STEM, foster critical thinking skills, and encourage collaboration through problem-based learning activities. We are proud to see these young students flourish in their academic pursuits, becoming STEM professionals, scholars, and active civic leaders in their communities.

Kicking off last year, we took our dedication to STEM to an even higher level by introducing a virtual educational program named Samsung Innovation Campus to offer Millennials and Gen Z women practical education in emerging technologies, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), enhancing their employment prospects and fostering much-needed gender diversity in tech. The 2022 and 2023 cohorts helped propel these women into promising career paths in these cutting-edge fields, making strides in addressing the industry’s pipeline problem.

Through these programs, we aim to create a future where STEM is accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstance. We believe that by doing so, we are contributing to a more equitable and prosperous society.

Our Dedication to Community Engagement & Employee Giving

But our commitment to co-prosperity extends beyond education. We also believe in making a tangible impact in the areas where we live and work. After all, we can only succeed when our communities also succeed. Through various community engagement and employee giving programs, we empower our employees to be active proponents of our mission.

Samsung Gives is our marquee employee service initiative, which is designed to provide support for and show solidarity with local communities through service. Our primary focus areas revolve around STEM education, as well as environmental sustainability. I find it to be incredibly meaningful to witness our employees coming together to support our companywide Day of Service, as well making donations and leveraging their skills to help such nonprofits as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, DonorsChoose, Junior Achievement and United Way in the U.S. and Autism Speaks Canada and SickKids in Canada accelerate their missions. And for Samsung’s part, we’ve exemplified our commitment by making significant financial and technology donations to these nonprofits, further enriching their crucial work in the community.

For example, in the U.S., Samsung has actively supported 1,300 classroom campaigns with DonorsChoose, making a substantial impact on the learning environments of students across the nation. In Canada, Samsung has donated over 5,000 tablets to families, schools and autism service providers to support their educational pursuits, through our partnership with Autism Speaks Canada. And we’ve pledged a $1 million commitment to SickKids, Canada’s foremost research-intensive hospital and the largest center dedicated to enhancing children’s health in the country.

What’s more, our Samsung Gives initiatives, such as the Day of Service, Intern Day of Service, Volunteer Time Off and Employee Match Program, really empower our employees to make a difference and support causes close to their hearts. The cumulative matching contribution by employees and our company since its inception has reached an impressive $6 million.

Of note, North America remains the only region worldwide that has successfully implemented a scaled companywide Day of Service – a tradition we’ve upheld for the past 13 years. We branch out from coast to coast to support various charities during business hours. This model sets a noteworthy example for corporate giving worldwide. In fact, I personally participated in sandwich making at Oasis, a nonprofit in Paterson, New Jersey, for children in afterschool care programs during our last Day of Service earlier this month. I learned that the sandwiches served a dual purpose. For some students, they were just an afternoon snack. For others, they were a take-home dinner or even a weekend meal.

We also work closely with our ERGs – Unidos, PRIDE, Galaxy of Black Professionals, Next Generation Leaders, Veterans Community, Women+ in Samsung Electronics – to strengthen our community outreach programs by integrating diverse community partners into our Samsung Gives employee volunteerism campaigns, such as The Resource Center, Team Rubicon and Year Up. This ERG-led inclusive volunteerism approach fosters deeper connections and a shared sense of purpose.

In closing, I believe our heritage of innovation, citizenship and community engagement is a testament to our unwavering commitment to co-prosperity. It’s a legacy that continues to drive us forward as we strive to create a brighter, more inclusive and sustainable future for all. As we look ahead to the next 55 years and beyond, Samsung remains steadfast in our dedication to empowering individuals, fostering positive change and making a meaningful difference in the world. Together, we can build a future where co-prosperity is not just a value, but a reality for all!