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 is proud to announce the winners of its 2024–2025 Solve for Tomorrow program,[1], an annual nationwide competition that invites Canadian youth in grades 6-12 to ideate solutions to address pressing challenges in their communities using science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). This year’s competition focused on supporting a sustainable environment, building equity for equity-seeking groups, and improving health in our communities.

After months of research, ideation and collaboration, four National Finalist teams presented their innovative projects on May 28, 2025 live at Samsung Canada Headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario to a panel of expert judges.

“The Solve for Tomorrow program embodies our dedication to education, innovation, and social impact by empowering students to tackle real-world challenges in their communities,” said Brian Shin, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Canada. “Congratulations to all the incredibly talented winners of Solve for Tomorrow. We’re thrilled to be building a future together where innovation and technology create positive impact.

Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, and Ontario Minister of Education, Paul Calandra, also shared messages of congratulations and support:

“I want to send a big congratulations to all the finalists from the Samsung Electronics Canada Solve for Tomorrow Program,” said Premier Ford, “Ontario is committed to preparing for the next generation of leaders, to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. Together we’ll continue to build a stronger, more prosperous future for all.”

“Congratulations to the winners of this year’s competition and to everyone who took part—this is a great opportunity for you to showcase your STEM skills and expand your knowledge and experience,” said Minister Calandra. “Our government will continue to focus on a back-to-basics approach in our schools to ensure you’re ready for the jobs of tomorrow. I look forward to seeing how far you’ll go to help change our world for the better.”

The 2024–2025 Solve for Tomorrow winners are:

First Place + School for Tomorrow Title: Aldershot School (Burlington, ON)

Prize: $50,000 in Samsung technology vouchers to support continued STEM learning. This school also earns the School for Tomorrow title, recognizing their outstanding leadership in innovative education.

Second Place: : STEM Innovation Academy High School (Calgary, AB)

Prize: $10,000 in Samsung technology vouchers.

Third Place: Elsie MacGill Secondary School (Milton, ON)

Prize: $10,000 in Samsung technology vouchers.

Fan Favourite Award: STEM Innovation Academy High School

Prize: $5,000 in Samsung technology vouchers. This award was voted by the public and celebrates community impact and engagement.

Since 2015, Solve for Tomorrow is a cornerstone of Samsung Canada’s global citizenship commitment to education, AI innovation, and youth development. Since its launch, Samsung Canada has engaged with over 40,000 students and 1,500 schools nationwide, investing over $1,000,000 in classroom technology, grants and mentorship.

To learn more about Solve for Tomorrow and explore this year’s winning projects, visit www.samsung.com/ca/solve

[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 Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Friday, January 31, 2025. Twelve (12) Regional Finalist teams will be selected on or about Friday, February 14, 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 Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 12:00:01 a.m. EST and Friday, April 11, 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 Tuesday, May 13, 2025 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Friday, May 23, 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.

Samsung Canada is excited to announce the panel of judges for the 2024/2025 Solve for Tomorrow Contest[i], a nationwide competition aimed at encouraging Canadian students in grades 6 – 12 to develop innovative solutions to address pressing challenges facing their communities. This year the themes of the contest include environmental sustainability, equity for equity-seeking groups, and health in our communities.

“We are honoured to partner with this talented panel of judges in championing the next generation of Canadian innovators,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO of Samsung Canada. “Together with the Solve for Tomorrow judges, we hope to encourage and empower the ingenuity of students to help build a better future.”

In line with this year’s themes, the Solve for Tomorrow judge lineup for 2024/2025 includes community leaders and advocates in the fields of environmental sustainability, equity, and health care, along with members of the Samsung Canada team. The judge lineup is as follows:

• Sachin Doshi, General Surgery Resident, University of Toronto. Sachin is an MBA candidate at Wharton and the University of Pennsylvania, whose focus is on healthcare management and innovation. He is also a General Surgery Resident at the University of Toronto, where he provides comprehensive surgical care across multiple specialties. With a keen interest in research, regulatory approval, and investment in medical innovation, Sachin is dedicated to advancing healthcare through technology.
• Brian Warren, Founder & Executive Director, Start2Finish. Start2Finish is an organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of child poverty in Canada. Through groundbreaking programming and child advocacy, Brian has created a transformative educational model that supports at-risk children from grade one through to post-secondary, empowering them to overcome barriers to success. With over 24 years of leadership, his work has reached communities across Canada and internationally, providing hope and opportunity to children in need.
• Shea Tough, Director of Program Success, The Knowledge Society. With a passion for advancing scientific solutions to real-world challenges, Shea is dedicated to exploring the untapped potential of scientific tools. Shea is focused on the transformative shift happening in the biotech industry, where innovative technologies are poised to reshape the way we live. Through mentorship and leadership, Shea is actively contributing to the future of technology and innovation.
• Stefanie Knights, Director, Talent Management, Samsung Electronics Canada. Stefanie leads organizational development initiatives focused on performance management, diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership development. With a passion for people development and fostering an inclusive workplace, Stefanie drives programs that promote engagement, continuous learning, and equal opportunity. She excels in creating innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of the business and ensure a dynamic, high-performing workforce.
• Laura Donaldson, Director & Head of Brand Marketing (Mobile), Samsung Electronics Canada. With extensive experience in brand marketing, Laura brings a strong focus on innovation and consumer engagement. Her expertise spans strategic planning and driving impactful mobile campaigns that strengthen brand reputation.
• Christian Di Vincenzo, Director, Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Canada. Christian leads the development of consumer-centric strategies to drive brand growth. With experience across technology and automotive sectors, Christian specializes in integrated marketing, branding, and product management. Passionate about innovation, team building and making an impact, he excels in transforming market insights into actionable growth initiatives.

Following the nationwide call for applications, the judges will have the challenging task of selecting the regional finalists in January 2025. These finalists will have an incredible opportunity to participate in a workshop with the judges as well as receive mentorship from Samsung employees, helping the students to refine and enhance their submissions before the next round of the contest. From there, twelve national finalists will be selected, and ultimately, one will be named the 2025 “School for Tomorrow.”

As part of the contest, a grand total of $125,000 in Samsung technology and vouchers will awarded, supporting eligible finalists and winners as they take their solutions to the next level.

Applications are still being accepted. To learn more, visit samsung.com/ca/solve and submit your application by December 20, 2024.

[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 Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Friday, December 20, 2024. Twelve (12) Regional Finalist teams will be selected on or about Monday, January 20, 2024 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 Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 12:00:01 a.m. EST and Friday, February 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 Tuesday, April 1, 2025 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on, Wednesday, April 16, 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.

Samsung Canada is now accepting applications for its 2024/2025 Solve for Tomorrow contest[1], an annual competition for Canadian students in grades 6-12 to ideate solutions to solve real-world problems using STEM learning.

Celebrating its 10^th year, Solve for Tomorrow illustrates Samsung’s commitment to championing youth innovation through mentorship, educational resources and technological support to power students’ ingenuity and spark meaningful change. This year, students are encouraged to develop innovative solutions that address environmental sustainability, equity for equity-seeking groups, and/or health in communities.

The competition consists of three phases:

Phase One:

• Teachers are invited to submit a written application on behalf of their students, explaining their idea and the issue they want to solve.
• From these responses, 12 finalists representing four regions in Canada will be selected as Regional Finalists to move on to Phase Two.

Phase Two:

• Regional Finalists will receive comprehensive support from Samsung to continue developing their ideas.
• This includes mentorship from industry experts, workshops, access to a dedicated alumni network, and more.
• Participants will be required to create a short video explaining their solution.
• Four video entries will be selected as National Finalists to advance to Phase Three.

Phase Three:

• Each of the four National Finalists will make a presentation to a panel of judges on their submission.
• One National Finalist will earn the coveted title of the 2025 “School for Tomorrow.”

A grand total of $125,000 in Samsung technology and vouchers will be awarded throughout the Contest, empowering eligible finalists and winners to take their innovative solutions to the next level.

“Samsung Canada has a longtime commitment to championing youth innovation. It is inspiring to see the passion and energy that students bring each year and we are thrilled to see our future leaders use tech for good,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Canada.

Canadian classrooms can submit their applications now until December 20, 2025 at samsung.com/ca/solve

[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 Tuesday, October 15, 2024 and 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Friday, December 20, 2024. Twelve (12) Regional Finalist teams will be selected on or about Monday, January 20, 2024 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 Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 12:00:01 a.m. EST and Friday, February 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 Tuesday, April 1, 2025 and end at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on, Wednesday, April 16, 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.

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.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest challenges Canadian youth to devise innovative, STEM-based solutions that will have a meaningful impact on their local communities. In 2022, Kevin Lau and Ann Baek, Team Triage Kiosk, aimed to improve their local hospital wait times through devising an innovative solution: a Samsung AI-powered triage kiosk.

As the 2023/24 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest is in full swing, we caught up with Team Triage Kiosk about their experiences winning the contest, and how they’re bringing their idea to life with assistance from the Samsung team.

1. Tell us about your overall experience with the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition was an opportunity to think progressively and create a proposed solution for today’s real-world problems that could have an impact on our communities moving forward. Each hurdle we faced was a learning opportunity in an exciting journey that we never wanted to end!

2. How did you come up with the idea for a Triage Kiosk?

While brainstorming many ideas about the issues around the world, we felt that the wait times in hospitals were an issue that many faced without a proposed solution. Currently, there is a shortage of healthcare workers, contributing to prolonged wait times in emergency rooms. By using STEM, we thought that it could help ease the burden off healthcare workers and also reassure patients.

3. Why did you decide to enter the contest?

We decided to enter the contest to bring our ideas to life. We wanted to take on a challenge to something we haven’t tried out before. When we first entered the contest, we just wanted to try our best and it would still be worthwhile if we didn’t win anything because we gave it our all.

4. How was your experience with the Solve for Tomorrow Masterclass?

The Solve for Tomorrow Masterclass with Andini Makosinski was an insightful information session before the final submission. We got to hear about her experience as an inventor and how she’s navigated her career. We loved hearing about her future plans and what she hoped to accomplish as someone with multiple commitments. It also felt encouraging that we were headed in the correct direction with our project as we faced obstacles along the way in creating our video.

5. How did it feel to win the contest?

We were delighted when we received news of our achievement. With all the hard work that went into developing the Triage Kiosk, it was amazing to hear that it all paid off in the end, knowing our idea could impact and create change in healthcare.

6. What has Team Triage Kiosk been up to since you won? How are you bringing the idea to life?

Ever since we won, we have been working with Samsung Canada to bring the product to life by partnering with EPIC, the patient charting software that is used by hospitals such as the University Health Network. Personally speaking, Ann is finishing up her undergraduate degree, pursuing her CPA designation; while Kevin is a full-time primary care paramedic.

7. What advice would you give to classrooms looking to enter this year?

To this year’s participants – being only limited to your imagination, our advice is to seek what inspires you, and use it to fuel your ideas. We are all capable of implementing change in our society for a brighter, more sustainable future.

Canadians in grades 6 to 12 with an innovative idea and teacher sponsor can apply to the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest until February 15 for a chance to win $50,000 for their school[1]. Visit Samsung.com/ca/solve to apply today!

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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 March 31, 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 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “Contest Entry Period”). Five (5) Finalist teams will be selected on or about  Friday, March 1. 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 4, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and Friday, April 5, , 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 Friday, April 12, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and will close on Friday, April 26, 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 Canada is proud to announce the judge lineup for its 2023/24 Solve for Tomorrow Contest[1], Samsung’s annual competition that invites invite students to showcase their creativity, innovation and passion by developing ideas and inventions to strive toward a more sustainable world.

This year’s competition, which opened for submissions in November, is inviting Canadian teachers and their classrooms in grades 6 through 12 to propose innovative sustainability solutions that will have a meaningful impact on the future of our planet. In line with this year’s theme, the Solve for Tomorrow judge lineup includes sustainability advocates and thought leaders, along with members of the Samsung Canada team. The judge lineup is as follows:

• Tovah Barocas, President and CEO of Earth Rangers, a charity that works with schools across the country to transform children and youth’s concerns about the environment into positive action. The Earth Rangers App has helped over 60,000 children and youth address eco-anxiety concerns in children across Canada and counting.
• Phil De Luna, Chief Carbon Scientist and Head of Engineering at Deep Sky, a carbon removals developer building large scale infrastructure to reverse climate change. Phil is a Governor General Gold Medal winning scientist, ranked in the top 0.1 per cent in the world in his field, a Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, and a Forbes Top 30 Under 30.
• Naila Moloo, an accomplished teen innovator, author, and researcher curious about leveraging technology for climate solutions. Naila is currently developing climate solutions such as flexible plastic-free solar cells leveraging nanomaterials, and building a bioplastic from duckweed in partnership with Pond Biomaterials. She also co-hosts The Curiosity Podcast and authored the “Chronicles of Illusions” novels.
• Monika Patel, Director, Communications and Marketing, Forest Stewardship Council Canada. For almost 15 years, Monika has worked in and advocated for a responsible approach to forestry and sustainable forest products through her work at FSC Canada.

Tovah, Phil, Naila and Monika will be joined by two members of the Samsung Canada team: Anna Lisa Prencipe, Head of Samsung Canada’s People Team and Tafari Jilany, Head of Corporate Marketing.

Judges will evaluate submissions from schools across the country, and pick the top five finalists in February 2023. From there, the finalists will receive dedicated mentorship to help refine their submissions. First place finalists will  receive a grand prize of $50,000, plus the honour of being named “The School of Tomorrow.” The second and third place finalist teams will each receive $10,000, and all five finalists will receive the opportunity to get a $5,000 voucher towards Samsung technology for their schools. In addition, as a new element this year, Samsung will invite Canadians to select their favourite submission through the new “People’s Choice Award” with the most popular team winning an additional $5,000.

Learn more about the Solve for Tomorrow Contest and apply today until February 15 at Samsung.com/ca/solve.

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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 May 31, 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 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “Contest Entry Period”). Five (5) Finalist teams will be selected on or about  Friday, March 1. 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 4, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and Friday, April 5, , 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 Friday, April 12, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and will close on Friday, April 26, 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 Canada today announced the launch of the 2023/24 Solve for Tomorrow Contest, an annual competition that invites youth from across Canada to develop innovative solutions that will make a meaningful impact on their communities.

60 per cent of Canadian youth are concerned about the impacts of climate change – but 53 per cent are optimistic that new technologies will allow us to limit its effects.[1] Recognizing the crucial need and desire among youth to spark change, and in line with its commitment to building A Smarter Future with Samsung, Samsung has proudly revamped this year’s Solve for Tomorrow contest to focus on sustainability challenges, awarding over $100,000 in prizing to Canadian schools. In partnership with dedicated sustainability organization, Earth Rangers, Samsung will provide the foundation for youth to develop their ideas and strive to make them a reality through mentorship, resources, and financial support.

This year, Samsung is inviting Canadian teachers and their classrooms from grades 6 to 12 to take part in the contest.[2] The top five finalist teams, chosen by a panel of judges, will receive dedicated mentorship to help refine their submissions, and will compete for the grand prize of $50,000 – plus receiving the honour of being named “The School for Tomorrow.” The second and third place finalist teams will each receive $10,000, and all five finalists will receive the opportunity to get a $5,000 voucher towards Samsung technology for their schools. In addition, as a new element this year, Samsung will invite Canadians to select their favourite submission through the new “People’s Choice Award” with the most popular team winning an additional $5,000.

“This year’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest brings together our commitment to building towards a sustainable future while amplifying the innovative ideas of Canadian youth,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Canada. “We are excited to see the thoughtful, inspiring solutions from Canada’s classrooms come to life this year to help build towards a brighter tomorrow.”

“The Solve for Tomorrow Contest is a fantastic opportunity for students to use their passion and creativity towards envisioning real solutions to help fight climate change.  Earth Rangers’ research consistently shows that the key to combating climate anxiety in young people is through positive action and this project encourages that in a compelling way.” said Tovah Barocas, President, Earth Rangers.

For over a decade, Samsung has celebrated youth innovation through the Solve for Tomorrow Contest. Last year’s winners, Team Triage Kiosk, developed an innovative STEM-based solution to solve long queues in emergency departments. Previous winners also include Project Enviroot, a sustainable, non-toxic alternative to softboard material made from discarded orange peel waste, and Project HeartStarter, a drone-powered automated external defibrillator (AED) delivery service for patients experiencing cardiac arrest.

From now until January 31^st, 2024, Canadian classrooms can submit their applications at samsung.com/ca/solve.

[1] https://leger360.com/surveys/2023-youth-study-report-millennials-and-gen-zs-employment-finances-and-future/

[2] Terms and Conditions apply. The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest begins on Thursday November 23, 2023 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ends on May 31, 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 Thursday, November 23, 2023 12:01 a.m. EST and Wednesday, January 31, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. EST (the “Contest Entry Period”). Five (5) Finalist teams will be selected on or about Wednesday, February 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 Friday, February 16, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and Friday, March 31, 2023 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, April 8, 2024 at 12:01 a.m. EST and will close on Monday, April 22, 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.

From left to right: Jihoon Lee, President & CEO, Samsung Canada, Ann Baek & Kevin Lau, Team Triage Kiosk, and Alex Thomas, Sr. Manager, Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Canada, celebrate 2022-2023 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow grand prize winners at an event in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Samsung Canada celebrated Team Triage Kiosk, the grand prize winners of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest.

The Solve for Tomorrow contest is an annual competition that invites youth ages 16 to 25 to solve real world problems using STEM and Samsung technology. As Grand Prize winners, Triage Kiosk took home $20,000 and a Samsung technology package to further bring their idea to life.

At the event, Samsung celebrated over 115 entrants to the Solve for Tomorrow Contest with an overview of the program, judging process, and a tribute to the finalists. A group of the Solve for Tomorrow judges shared their remarks and congratulations for the participants and winners.

Team Triage Kiosk, consisting of Kevin Lau and Ann Baek from Ontario, participated in a panel discussion alongside Solve for Tomorrow judge and Canada Learning Code CEO Rekha Rao-Mayya, and Samsung Toronto AI Research Lead Sven Dickinson, on the future of STEM innovation. The discussion ranged from advice on leveraging AI in the future, how brands and corporations can support STEM learning, to what the future holds for Triage Kiosk’s winning idea.

“It was an honour to celebrate the winners of our Solve for Tomorrow challenge. Triage Kiosk displayed tremendous innovation and a true passion for improving their communities with their winning submission,” said Jihoon Lee, President and CEO, Samsung Canada. “We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Team Triage Kiosk. Samsung will continue its commitment to bettering our communities as we work towards next year’s contest.”

Read more about Triage Kiosk’s winning submission, along with the finalist’s ideas, here. For more details on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest, please click here.

Samsung Canada today announced the winners of the 2022/23 Solve for Tomorrow Contest, an annual competition that challenges Canadian youth aged 16 to 25 to create STEM-based solutions, which will have a meaningful impact on their local communities.

The grand prize winner, Triage Kiosk, was recognized by the Solve for Tomorrow panel of expert judges for their innovative idea to reduce ER triage wait times through a Samsung powered kiosk. The team will take home $20,000 in cash, along with Samsung technology worth $8,333*, to further bring their solution to life.

“We are incredibly grateful for the empowering opportunity to ‘Solve for Tomorrow’, and receive recognition for our initiative,” said team members of Triage Kiosk, “Winning this prize money means we will be able to build Triage Kiosk to streamline the triage process, improve allocation of resources and decrease ER wait times.”

“This year’s Solve for Tomorrow Contest truly raised the bar and brought forward a new calibre of exceptional ideas, creativity, and innovation from Canadian youth,” said Jennifer Groh, Senior Director, Corporate Marketing and Citizenship, Samsung Canada. “We are thrilled to celebrate Triage Kiosk for their innovative idea, which is a testament to the purpose of this contest: fostering change in our communities.”

The second and third place prize winners, Team RadiCalgary and Team Beedie Bright, respectively, were also recognized for their innovative solutions. RadiCalgary presented an idea to improve the availability of basic hygiene with mobile hygiene units and Beedie Bright proposed innovative dash cams using recycled Samsung phones and sustainable materials. The second and third place winners will each receive $2,500 in cash  as well as Samsung technology valued at $8,333* to further support their projects.

“We are thankful that Samsung has provided us with the opportunity to showcase our idea,” said team members of RadiCalgary. “We are confident that our innovative mobile hygiene unit will successfully bring dignity to people experiencing poverty in Calgary.”

“Placing top three in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow challenge means a lot for us,” said team members of Beedie Bright. “It validates the hard work and dedication we put into this challenge in trying to create a feasible, practical, and meaningful solution to help Canadians.”

The first, second and third place winners were selected from over 100 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest entries.

For information on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest, visit https://www.samsung.com/ca/solve

*Based on MSRP value of the Samsung products provided.