Marking the fifth edition of its flagship CSR programme Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung India has taken its Design Thinking Workshops to 135 cities across the country, creating one of India’s largest grassroots innovation platforms for young people.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a nationwide innovation and education competition that empowers young people aged 14–22 to identify pressing challenges in their communities and develop technology-based solutions through design thinking, mentorship and incubation. Over the years, the programme has evolved into a launchpad for India’s next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs and social changemakers.

This year, Samsung conducted 184 Design Thinking Workshops, reaching thousands of students across schools, colleges and universities — from Jammu & Kashmir to Tamil Nadu and Gujarat to Tripura. The workshops introduced participants to human-centered design thinking, enabling them to understand real-world problems before building technology-led solutions with meaningful social impact.

With the Design Thinking Workshops now concluded, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow enters its next phase, where the top 100 teams will be selected based on the ideas submitted by participants before progressing through mentorship, expert guidance and further evaluation.

“Every breakthrough starts by listening, observing and asking the right questions. Through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, we are helping young people across India develop that mindset by combining design thinking with technology to solve challenges that matter in their own communities. As we mark the fifth year of the programme, it is inspiring to see innovative ideas emerge from every corner of the country. We believe the next generation of entrepreneurs and technology leaders can come from anywhere, and Samsung is proud to help them turn their ideas into real-world impact,” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia.

The diversity of ideas shared by students reflected the diversity of India itself. Working through structured design thinking exercises, students learned to observe, empathise, define challenges, ideate and prototype solutions aligned with the programme’s four themes —AI Living for India, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport & Tech.

Students proposed AI-powered civic governance platforms, intelligent food quality scanners, assistive technologies for people with disabilities, portable solar-powered refrigeration for rural communities, real-time river water quality monitoring systems, and digital platforms that make sports coaching and equipment more accessible.

In Hyderabad, engineering student A. Sharanya Rao developed the concept for a real-time river water quality monitoring system after observing the hidden dangers posed by microscopic pollutants. “The real danger in our rivers isn’t the plastic we can see; it’s the microscopic pollutants that stay hidden until the damage is already done,” she said.

In Ahmedabad, Class IX student Saanvi Nair designed a portable solar-powered refrigerator to address food and water storage challenges in rural communities. “Workers and farmers in villages often struggle to store grains, water and food,” she said.

Students participating in the Sport & Tech workshop in Gurugram also explored affordable ways to improve access to sports equipment and digital coaching, demonstrating how technology can make sports more inclusive.

As Samsung celebrates 30 years in India, the continued expansion of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow reflects the company’s long-term commitment to nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship and problem-solving among India’s youth.

 The top four teams of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 will receive incubation grants worth INR 2 crore, along with mentorship, prototype development and incubation support from FITT-IIT Delhi, enabling them to transform promising ideas into impactful real-world innovations.

A decade ago, employees at Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore (SRI-B) noticed a recurring challenge during visits to government schools in Karnataka. While attendance remained high, many students lacked something fundamental to learning—basic notebooks and stationery.

That observation led to an employee-driven initiative that has since reached more than 2 lakh students across the state. Since 2015, SRI-B has distributed nearly 15 lakh notebooks, with this year’s drive providing 42,819 notebooks to 7,620 students across 195 government schools in Kolar district. More than 100 SRI-B employees volunteered in this year’s initiative, visiting schools to distribute notebooks and interact with students.

“At SRI-B, innovation and education go hand in hand. As engineers and innovators, we understand the transformative power of learning. A notebook may appear simple, but for a child it represents opportunity, confidence and the freedom to dream. Through this initiative, we hope to empower students with the resources they need to write their own success stories and build a brighter future,” said Mohan Rao Goli, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Samsung R&D Institute India-Bangalore.

The notebook donation initiative was launched in 2015 after SRI-B employees, during visits to government schools, found that many students attended classes regularly despite lacking basic learning materials such as notebooks and stationery. What began as a small employee-led effort has since grown into one of SRI-B’s longest-running community initiatives.

Over the years, SRI-B has expanded its support for government schools beyond notebooks. The institute has donated tablets, student desks, flipboards, school kits and RO water filters, while also undertaking infrastructure projects including rebuilding a government school in Kembodi, repainting school buildings and, most recently, refurbishing the Government Higher Primary School in Bodenahalli.

The notebook initiative reflects SRI-B’s long-term commitment to supporting education in communities around its Bengaluru campus. Through employee volunteering and sustained investment in learning resources and school infrastructure, the institute continues to help create better learning environments for students across Karnataka.

India’s young innovators are proactively looking at technology as a tool to solve everyday challenges around them. From a Class 12 student rethinking plastic waste management in Golaghat, Assam, to school students exploring solutions for hearing loss and road accessibility in Gandipet, Hyderabad. The challenges are local, but the impact is scaling nationwide through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

As part of its nationwide 100-city rollout, Samsung India conducted its flagship Solve for Tomorrow Design Thinking Workshops at Furkating Senior Secondary School in Golaghat and the Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology (CBIT) in Hyderabad. The workshop inspired 74 students in Assam and 173 students in Hyderabad, bringing together 247 young innovators across these diverse geographies.

The workshops introduced participants to human-centred innovation framework, equipping them with practical tools to identify grassroots challenges, understand user needs, and develop technology-led solutions with meaningful social impact. This initiative encourages youth to pioneer scalable innovations across four core pillars: AI for a Better Tomorrow, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport-Tech.

At Furkating Senior Secondary School, 16-year-old Jafrein Rahman applied the design thinking framework to this community’s waste problem. “Plastic becomes difficult to recycle when different types are mixed together at the point of disposal,” he said. To solve this, Jafrein conceptualized smart waste bins integrated with sensors and QR code-based guidance systems to drive proper segregation at the source, ultimately reducing the volume of waste reaching landfills and local water bodies.

At CBIT Hyderabad, the workshop inspired 14-year-old A.K. Ashritha to focus her attention on hearing health. In the same cohort, 13-year-old students T. Nithya and T. Sreelaasya examined the daily mobility challenges faced by visually impaired individuals, senior citizens, and people with limited mobility, exploring intuitive tech-driven interventions to make road crossings safer and more accessible.

For these students, the workshops provided a structured pathway for innovation, transforming everyday observations into scalable solutions that address local needs while creating broader social impact.

As Samsung marks 30 years in India, the expansion of Solve for Tomorrow to 100 cities this year, having already engaged over 2,500 students through its Design Thinking Workshops, reflects its continued investment in youth-led innovation and its commitment to advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat, Skill India, Digital India and Startup India.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 are open until July 3, 2026. The top four winning teams will receive incubation grants worth ₹2 crore, along with mentorship and prototyping support through FITT, IIT Delhi.

To register your idea, visit: samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

Samsung India has welcomed the latest cohort of its Samsung Talent Excellence Programme (STEP), bringing on board 17 exceptional management trainees from some of India’s leading business schools. Over the next year, these young professionals will embark on a journey of learning, collaboration and innovation as they prepare to become the next generation of leaders at Samsung.

The new cohort represents premier institutes including FMS Delhi, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, MDI Gurgaon, NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune, IIFT, IIM Calcutta and XLRI Jamshedpur, reflecting Samsung’s continued commitment to attracting the country’s brightest talent.

The four-day STEP orientation programme introduced the trainees to Samsung’s rich legacy, values, business philosophy and culture of innovation. The programme also provided opportunities to interact with senior leaders, understand Samsung’s diverse businesses and connect with fellow trainees.

Welcoming the new cohort, Rishabh Nagpal, Head of People Team, Samsung India, encouraged the trainees to embrace every opportunity with curiosity and patience.

“As you begin this new chapter, my advice is simple—stay curious, stay patient and keep learning. Don’t worry about having all the answers from day one. Take the time to understand the business, learn from your colleagues and leaders, and make the most of every experience that comes your way.”

He added that Samsung is not only one of the world’s leading technology companies but also one of the top employers globally and in India, offering an environment where people can learn, innovate and build long, meaningful careers.

For many trainees, the orientation was just the beginning of memorable experiences that reinforced Samsung’s people-first culture.

Abhijit Naik reflected on how, even as an intern, he was treated as a valued team member rather than just another trainee. The mentorship, trust and encouragement he received gave him the confidence to contribute from day one.

Ayushi Anand shared that her biggest “wow moment” was discovering how freedom, flexibility and mentorship coexist at Samsung. She appreciated the openness of the culture, where everyone—irrespective of hierarchy—was approachable and willing to guide and support new employees.

For Kshitija Jiddewar, stepping into the market transformed her understanding of marketing. Interacting with dealers, sales teams and customers helped her see how business strategies come alive on the ground and how customer insights shape meaningful innovation.

Srivatsa B recalled winning the “Fastest Fingers First” quiz during orientation and receiving a copy of Leading Digital. More than the prize itself, he valued the learning mindset that Samsung encourages from the very beginning of every employee’s journey.

Over the past decade, the STEP programme has evolved into a strong leadership pipeline for Samsung India. Many alumni now lead key strategic functions across the organisation, demonstrating the programme’s enduring impact on developing future leaders.

As the new cohort begins its Samsung journey, they carry forward a legacy built on continuous learning, innovation and collaboration. With fresh ideas, boundless energy and the support of experienced mentors, these young professionals are set to shape the future of Samsung India—one opportunity, one challenge and one innovation at a time.

As Samsung expanded its operations, a strong network of suppliers, logistics providers and manufacturing partners grew alongside it, creating opportunities for local businesses, strengthening industrial capabilities and raising manufacturing standards across the region.

Today, the Sriperumbudur belt is home to a thriving ecosystem of component manufacturers and service partners, many of whom have steadily enhanced their capabilities to meet global benchmarks in quality, efficiency and innovation.

United Industries Plastic Private Ltd is one such example. What began as a modest operation with two manufacturing units has grown into a six-unit enterprise across Chennai, with one of its newest facilities dedicated to supporting Samsung’s requirements.

Reflecting on the journey, Keerthi Mahalingam, Director, United Industries Plastic Private Ltd, said the partnership has been about much more than business.

“Samsung treats us as partners rather than suppliers. Over the last 13 years, there has been significant knowledge transfer, from manufacturing practices to organisational systems. It has helped us evolve into a stronger company.”

As Samsung strengthened its manufacturing presence, it also introduced rigorous quality systems and workplace practices that encouraged suppliers to build stronger internal capabilities. For many partners, aligning with these standards became an opportunity to improve their own operations.

Mahalingam said Samsung’s structured approach, ranging from visitor management systems to employee welfare initiatives, has inspired partners to adopt similar practices.

“Samsung has set a very high benchmark in terms of processes, employee care and ESG practices. Their yearly audits encourage continuous improvement. We have adopted several of these practices in our own facilities, including structured transport systems and enhanced workplace standards.”

He added that Samsung’s presence has played an important role in the broader industrial growth of the region, with new supplier units being established and existing businesses expanding operations closer to the manufacturing hub.

“The entire belt has developed over the years. Many companies have grown alongside Samsung.”

The transformation is equally evident at Vignesh Polymers India Private Ltd, which has been operating in Sriperumbudur since 2007 and has partnered with Samsung for nearly 15 years.

Selvakumar, Plant Head, Vignesh Polymers, said one of the defining strengths of the partnership has been Samsung’s structured and forward-looking approach to manufacturing.

“With Samsung, planning is very systematic—from purchase schedules to delivery timelines. This helps us plan our own operations better and invest with confidence.”

Over the years, this collaborative approach has enabled suppliers to strengthen capabilities across planning, purchasing, quality and research and development.

“We have learned extensively across planning, purchasing, quality and R&D. As Samsung continues to introduce new and premium products, we also upgrade our capabilities to match global quality expectations,” he said.

This shared focus on continuous improvement has enabled partners to participate in increasingly sophisticated manufacturing processes while building expertise that supports long-term growth.

Beyond industrial capability, the expansion of the manufacturing ecosystem has also contributed to improvements in infrastructure and employment across the region.

Selvakumar said the transformation over the past decade has been significant.

“From around 2015 to today, the difference is very clear. Infrastructure has improved, roads are better, transport connectivity has strengthened, and more businesses are operating in the region. Employment opportunities have increased for local communities.”

Samsung’s contribution to the region also extends beyond manufacturing through community engagement and social initiatives that support long-term development.

“Samsung maintains strong relationships with nearby communities and schools. These initiatives also help strengthen the ecosystem,” he said.

As Sriperumbudur continues to evolve into a globally-competitive manufacturing hub, the relationship between Samsung and its partners reflects a shared commitment to capability building, knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

For companies across the ecosystem, the journey of growth continues.

“Based on Samsung’s evolving requirements, we continue to develop ourselves,” Selvakumar said.

From enabling suppliers to expand operations and strengthening manufacturing capabilities to raising benchmarks in quality and workplace systems, Samsung’s presence has helped shape an ecosystem that continues to generate opportunities and contribute to the region’s economic development.

The story of Sriperumbudur’s rise is therefore not just one of industrial expansion, but of collaboration. Here long-term partnerships, shared ambition and continuous improvement have helped build a resilient manufacturing ecosystem that continues to power growth.

As Hyderabad continues to evolve as a leading technology hub, the city is also navigating the challenges of rapid urbanisation, including river pollution and growing volumes of urban waste. Addressing these issues requires innovative thinking, local insights and a generation of young changemakers equipped to design solutions with lasting social impact.

To nurture this mindset, Samsung India hosted a specialized Design Thinking Workshop for 236 students at the Sreenidhi Institute of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, under the fifth edition of its flagship Samsung Solve for Tomorrow initiative. The session introduced participants to human-centric Design Thinking principles, empowering them to deeply understand community needs, identify local challenges, and engineer purpose-driven, technology-led solutions.

The workshop is part of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow’s nationwide outreach across 100 cities in 2026. The programme encourages young innovators aged 14–22 to transform grassroots observations into scalable ideas across themes including AI, healthcare, education, sustainability and sport-tech.

Drawing inspiration from the challenges already existing around them, students in Hyderabad shifted their focus to the city’s rivers. “The real danger in our rivers isn’t the plastic we can see; it’s the microscopic pollutants that stay hidden until the damage is already done,” said A. Sharanya Rao, a third-year Electronics and Communication Engineering student at Sreenidhi Institute of Engineering & Technology. Her solution monitors water quality in real time, automatically alerting authorities the moment contamination crosses safe limits.

At the same time, in order target municipal waste management, fourth-year student V. Jyoshna engineered an intelligent dustbin that automatically segregates waste at the point of discard. She pointed that recycling often fails the moment food, plastic, and paper go into a single bin together, and by automating segregation right at the start, her team aims to drastically improve urban recycling rates.

As Samsung marks 30 years in India, the massive expansion of Solve for Tomorrow highlights the company’s position as a definitive leader in youth development. By nurturing entrepreneurial talent, this purpose-driven initiative directly partners in India’s growth story, contributing to national priorities like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Skill India, Digital India, and Startup India.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 remain open to individuals and teams aged 14–22 until July 3, 2026. To register your idea, visit www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow.

Samsung India brought its flagship Solve for Tomorrow Design Thinking Workshop to Bokaro, where 450 students from Chinmaya Vidyalaya learnt how to apply human-centred design to everyday problems, developing technology-led ideas to improve accessibility and civic services.

Held as part of Samsung’s nationwide 100-city outreach, the workshop encouraged students to begin with empathy—understanding the people affected by a problem before designing a solution. Participants explored how observation, research and design thinking can transform local challenges into scalable innovations.

One of the ideas came from Class 10 student Aditya Narayan Singh, who conceptualised a wearable assistive device to help visually impaired people navigate safely. Inspired by the difficulties faced on crowded streets and uneven roads in Bokaro, the concept uses sensors to detect obstacles and alerts users through audio prompts or vibration.

Another student team proposed CivicBin, an AI-powered platform that enables citizens to report civic issues such as damaged roads and water leakages. Using image recognition and natural language processing, the platform automatically routes complaints to the relevant civic department while providing real-time updates on their resolution.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is the company’s flagship innovation and education programme for young people aged 14–22 years. Through Design Thinking Workshops being conducted across Bharat, Samsung is equipping students with innovation and entrepreneurial skills while encouraging them to develop solutions under four themes—AI for a Better Tomorrow, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability and Sport-Tech.

As Samsung marks 30 years in India, the programme is being expanded across the country to strengthen grassroots innovation and ensure that young people from every region have access to the tools and mindset needed to solve real-world challenges.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 are open until July 3, 2026. The top four winning teams will receive incubation grants worth INR 2 crore through FITT, IIT Delhi, along with mentorship, prototyping support and access to India’s startup ecosystem.

For generations, Gujarat’s entrepreneurial spirit has powered businesses, industries and community-led progress, making it one of India’s most dynamic centers of innovation and opportunity. Bringing this spirit of problem-solving to the next generation, Samsung India conducted a Design Thinking Workshop under its flagship Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2026 programme in Adani Vidya Mandir, Ahmedabad, where over 108 students explored how technology and human-centred design can be used to solve real-world challenges.

The workshop, part of a nationwide 100-city rollout, introduced participants to Samsung’s Design Thinking framework, helping them identify local challenges, understand user needs and transform observations into scalable, technology-driven solutions.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung India’s flagship innovation and education programme for young people aged 14–22 years. The fifth edition encourages participants to develop solutions across four themes — AI for a Better Tomorrow, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport-Tech.

During the Ahmedabad workshop, students developed ideas addressing a range of community challenges. Saanvi Nair, a Class 9 student from Adani Vidya Mandir, applied sustainable engineering principles to rural logistics after identifying a pressing storage deficit.

“Workers and farmers in villages often struggle to store grains, water and food,” she said, inspiring her concept for an eco-friendly, portable solar-powered refrigerator.

Focusing on tech-enabled preventative wellness and consumer safety, fellow student Vaishvi Kashti shared “Many doctors say that we are getting sick from eating food that has harmful substances or ingredients,” leading her to propose an intelligent, real-time scanning device to validate food quality.

Similarly, targeting industrial automation and risk mitigation, Kruti Rana highlighted that “Industries and factories often catch fire easily because of some technical issues in their machinery,” driving her to conceptualise an automated IoT-alert system to pre-empt mechanical failures.

The solutions emerging from the workshop reflected the diversity of innovation opportunities across Gujarat. From sustainability and food safety to industrial automation, students showcased how local challenges can become starting points for impactful innovation.

As Samsung marks 30 years in India, it is significantly expanding the scale of Solve for Tomorrow through Design Thinking Workshops across Bharat, creating opportunities for young innovators from diverse backgrounds to build future-ready problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurial skills.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 remain open until July 3, 2026. The top four winning teams will receive incubation grants worth INR 2 crore through FITT, IIT Delhi, along with mentorship, training, prototyping support and access to India’s startup ecosystem.

For more information and to apply, visit:www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

Bringing this spirit of innovation to the forefront, Samsung India conducted a Design Thinking Workshop under its flagship Solve for Tomorrow 2026 programme in Alwar, where 255 students from MSME Technology College, Bhiwadi explored how artificial intelligence, technology and human-centred design can be applied to address real-world problems.

The workshop introduced students to Samsung’s Design Thinking framework, helping them identify local challenges, understand user needs and transform observations into scalable, technology-driven solutions.

One such idea came from Veeru Kumar Verma, who examined the growing challenge of traffic congestion and inefficient parking management in rapidly expanding urban centres such as Bhiwadi. Through the workshop, he developed the concept of a smart parking platform that could provide real-time information on available parking spaces and help reduce traffic bottlenecks.

“The workshop helped me look beyond the symptoms of a problem and understand its root causes. Once I started thinking from the user’s perspective, it became easier to imagine solutions that could make a real difference,” said Verma.

Another participant, Hemant Kushwaha, focused on the gap between skill-development opportunities and student awareness. His idea explored how digital platforms could help young people access information about training programmes, career opportunities and skill-building resources available in their region.

The solutions emerging from the workshop reflected the diversity of innovation opportunities that exist across Rajasthan. From smarter urban infrastructure and mobility solutions to education and workforce readiness, participants demonstrated how local challenges can become starting points for impactful innovation.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung India’s flagship innovation and education programme for young people aged 14–22 years. The programme encourages participants to develop solutions under four themes — AI for a Better Tomorrow, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport-Tech.

As Samsung celebrates 30 years in India, the company is significantly expanding the scale of Solve for Tomorrow through Design Thinking Workshops across 100 cities spanning Bharat, creating opportunities for young innovators from diverse backgrounds to build future-ready problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurial skills.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 are open until July 3, 2026. The top four winning teams will receive incubation grants worth INR 2 crore through FITT, IIT Delhi, along with mentorship, prototyping support, training and access to India’s startup ecosystem.

To apply, visit: samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow

The Design Thinking Workshops introduced participants to Samsung’s human-centred innovation framework, equipping them with practical tools to identify everyday challenges, understand user needs and develop technology-led solutions with meaningful social impact.

Held in Army Public School, Ratnuchak Jammu and Government Degree College Baramulla the workshops encouraged students to explore innovation opportunities across digital accessibility, community development, education and smarter civic infrastructure.

The workshops forms part of Samsung’s nationwide effort to expand innovation opportunities beyond metropolitan centres. As part of Solve for Tomorrow 2026, Samsung is conducting Design Thinking Workshops across 100 cities spanning Bharat, enabling young innovators from diverse backgrounds to build future-ready problem-solving and entrepreneurial skills.

Among them was Zamin Anayat Lone from Government Degree College Sopore, Baramulla, who conceptualized a mobile application designed to improve accessibility and emergency response through SOS alerts and live-location sharing features.

“The workshop taught me that innovation begins with understanding people and their experiences. It encouraged me to think about how technology can be used to create meaningful solutions that positively impact communities,” said Zamin.

The workshops also inspired participants to examine how technology could strengthen public services and improve quality of life. Gagandeep Singh from Army Public School, Ratnuchak explored technology-enabled approaches to support more efficient waste management systems, while Garima Yadav, a Class IX student, examined how digital platforms could help students access career awareness and skill-development opportunities.

The ideas emerging from the workshops reflected the growing innovation potential of Jammu & Kashmir’s youth. Participants demonstrated how Design Thinking can transform everyday observations into scalable solutions that address local needs while creating broader social impact.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung India’s flagship innovation competition for young people aged 14–22 years. The programme encourages participants to develop solutions under four themes — AI for a Better Tomorrow, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport-Tech.

As Samsung celebrates 30 years in India, the company continues to invest in nurturing the country’s next generation of innovators by bringing innovation, mentorship and entrepreneurial opportunities closer to students across Bharat.

The programme will culminate with the top four winning teams receiving incubation grants worth INR 2 crore through FITT, IIT Delhi, along with mentorship, training, prototyping support and access to India’s startup ecosystem.

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 are open until July 3, 2026.

To apply, visit: samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow