Their AI-based platform explores how sugarcane bagasse can be transformed into protein-rich mycoprotein using bioreactors—bringing together innovation, sustainability and nutrition.

For Priyanshu Raj and Nitish Kumar, making it to the Top 20 has been a journey of learning and discovery. With mentorship and prototyping support, the team has strengthened its idea and explored how a local agricultural challenge can be translated into a practical innovation.

Watch Kinva Bio share what being among the Top 20 means to them—and what they hope to build next.

Led by 21-year-old Homanshika Reddy Pullagurla, the team is developing a wearable system that uses sensors to track spinal movement in real time. Initially being explored for rifle shooters, the solution aims to help athletes and coaches understand movement patterns and assess potential injury risks during training.

Watch Homanshika share what making it to the Top 20 means to her and how she hopes to take the idea forward.

Samsung India today announced the launch of Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) 2026 in Karnataka to train 2000 youth with industry-relevant Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills. The launch of the flagship global education and skilling programme was attended by Shri Basavaraj Rayareddy, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka, as Chief Guest along with senior academicians from Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru.

Launched in partnership with Nrupathunga University, Bengaluru, the programme supports Karnataka’s ambition to build an AI-native ecosystem by expanding access to practical AI education and helping develop a future-ready technology workforce. In Karnataka, the programme has trained over 3000 people to date.

Samsung Innovation Campus is a global education programme that empowers young people with skills for emerging technology careers. Now in its fourth year in India, SIC provides youth aged 18–25 with hands-on AI training, enabling participants to apply their learning to practical challenges while strengthening their career readiness.

The Karnataka launch comes as the state strengthens its focus on AI-led innovation. Samsung’s commitment to train 2,000 youth in the state this year will bring industry-relevant AI learning closer to aspiring students and contribute to the development of Karnataka’s technology talent pool. The initiative forms part of Samsung’s broader commitment to empower 20,000 youth across 10 states through SIC 2026.

“India has one of the world’s largest pools of young talent, and the opportunity before us is to equip this generation with the skills to shape an increasingly AI-driven economy. As technology transforms industries and creates new possibilities, building future-ready capabilities at scale will be critical to India’s next phase of growth. Through Samsung Innovation Campus, we want to help expand access to emerging technology skills and enable young people to become active contributors to India’s innovation economy. As Samsung marks 30 years in India, investing in the potential of young Indians remains an important part of our commitment to the country,” said Shubham Mukherjee, Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, Samsung South West Asia.

“With Artificial Intelligence transforming industries and creating new opportunities, developing a strong pool of skilled young talent will be critical to Karnataka’s continued leadership in technology and innovation. Samsung Innovation Campus complements the state’s efforts to build an AI-native ecosystem by giving youth access to practical, industry-relevant learning. Such collaborations between academia and industry can equip our students with the capabilities they need to participate meaningfully in the opportunities being created by emerging technologies,” said Shri Basavaraj Rayareddy, Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education, Government of Karnataka.

Strengthening India’s Future AI Talent
SIC 2026 is being implemented in collaboration with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC). The programme focuses on industry-relevant AI and Generative AI education through structured learning, practical application and mentorship.

In 2025, SIC trained more than 20,000 participants across India, with women accounting for 48% of participation. The 2026 edition builds on this foundation by extending advanced technology education to more young people and helping develop skills relevant to India’s rapidly evolving digital economy.

Guided by its global CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” Samsung India focuses its citizenship initiatives on Smart Education and Skilling Youth, providing young people with access to knowledge, skills and opportunities that can help them shape their future.

SIC forms part of Samsung’s wider efforts to strengthen India’s skilling and innovation ecosystem. Alongside Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, which enables young people to develop innovative solutions to real-world challenges, and Samsung DOST, which builds industry-ready skills for sales and technical service roles, the programme reflects Samsung’s long-term commitment to empowering India’s next generation through education, skills and technology.

Samsung India today launched its 2026 Bespoke AI appliances lineup, designed to enhance and simplify consumers’ lives. At ‘The Brief Gurugram’, a cutting-edge experiential event, Samsung demonstrated how AI acts as a common thread across different product categories, connecting climate control, laundry, living room, and kitchen into an ecosystem capable of learning habits, automating tasks, and optimizing energy consumption through the SmartThings platform. With intuitive touchscreens, advanced voice intelligence, and inclusive design, the 2026 Bespoke AI appliances lineup offers a connected, easy-to-use, and secure smart home experience for everyone.

“Our 2026 Bespoke AI range is designed to understand diverse lifestyles so that they become your AI Home Companion to deliver real-world convenience. Samsung’s objective is to create an AI Home where technology adapts to the way you live — not the other way around. Our Bespoke AI appliances come with AI Vision, Samsung Knox solution, and inclusive design to make homes smarter, safer, and more human-centric. Every second Samsung appliance sold in India today is a Bespoke AI appliance and we are confident that our new lineup will continue to get consumers’ love and support,” said JB Park President and CEO Samsung Southwest Asia.

2026 Bespoke AI Home Appliance Lineup

• Family Hub Refrigerator with AI Vision built with Google Gemini¹: Equipped with contextual AI experiences like search for Video Recipes, the 32-inch Family Hub serves as a central space , Now Brief, Notes, schedules, and entertainment. Localised features include Family Care and Pet Care.
• Bespoke AI WindFree Pro Air Conditioner: A next-gen platform with AI-enabled controls and PM1.0 purification for superior air quality. It comes with scalable climate management via SmartThings + Home Appliance Remote Management [HRM].
• Infinite1-Way Cassette AC with WindFree: Designed for modern spaces, it features Edge Lighting with 9 light modes, draft-free WindFreeTM Cooling through 17200 micro-holes, and an ultra slim profile with13.8 cm depth, made of long-lasting ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) material. Comes equipped with SmartThings control, AI comfort Mode and an Intertek certified antibacterial copper filter.

The 2026 Bespoke AI appliances are powered by Samsung’s AI Home screen, Bixby voice assistant, Knox security, and SmartThings connectivity, delivering personalized, energy-efficient, and secure smart home solutions for modern Indian households.

Built into select devices, the AI Home screen serves as a central hub for managing home appliances. The AI Home screen provides real-time insights, controls connected appliances, and supports entertainment and family communication—all from one interface. Its user-friendly design makes it easier to unlock the full potential of Samsung’s Bespoke AI appliances.

The upgraded Bixby voice assistant now supports voice commands and introduces Voice ID, which recognizes individual users and personalizes their experience. New SmartThings services like Family Care enhance safety by sending alerts in unusual situations, such as inactivity at scheduled times. Complementing this, Samsung’s Pet Care service helps owners look after their furry companions by enabling activity tracking, breed-based health insights, and timely reminders for walks and care routines through the SmartThings app.

Samsung is committed to delivering trusted, intelligent experiences. Enhanced Knox Security ensures multi-layered protection across devices, giving users peace of mind. Samsung’s software update service via SmartThings, now offers 7 years of updates, ensuring long-term value.

The Bespoke AI lineup is centred around four key pillars that define the consumer experience: AI Understands you, AI Adapts to you, AI Connects Your Home, and AI Cares for You.

AI Understands You: Making Everyday Living More Intuitive

The Bespoke AI lineup brings AI-powered appliances and SmartThings together to simplify everyday routines. The Bespoke AI Refrigerator Family Hub uses AI Vision and AI Food Manager to recognise food items, suggest recipes and help manage use-by dates. The ‘Now Brief’ feature provides personalised daily updates, including schedules, weather and family care information. Integration between SmartThings and Samsung Health also enables calorie-aware meal planning.

AI Adapts to You: Personalised Comfort for Better Sleep

The WindFree ACs bring personalised comfort to everyday cooling featuring AI Energy Mode for efficient, low-noise cooling. The ‘Wearable Good Sleep’ feature works with Galaxy Wearables to adjust AC settings based on individual sleep patterns, helping create a more comfortable sleep environment. Triple Motion Wings offer precise airflow control, allowing users to direct cooling where it is needed.

AI Connects Your Home: Bringing Appliances Together

With SmartThings built into select appliances, the Bespoke AI lineup enables connected experiences across the home. The Top Mount Refrigerator offers features such as Energy Saving mode and Power Cool/Freeze, while 2-in-1 Smart Conversion provides flexible storage options. Closet & Pantry Monitoring further extends connected home capabilities by helping households monitor their belongings.

AI Cares for You: Smarter Laundry and Appliance Care

The Bespoke AI Laundry Combo uses AI Wash & Dry to detect fabric types and adjusts the wash and drying cycle accordingly. A dedicated Pet Care Wash Cycle makes it easier to clean pet accessories, while Smart Forward Software Updates help appliances evolve with new features over time. SmartThings Home Care and Home Appliance Remote Management [HRM] further support convenient appliance monitoring and service.

With the evolution of the Bespoke AI ecosystem, Samsung reinforces its strategy of integrating artificial intelligence, connectivity, and security across different home appliance categories. The goal is to transform smart home automation into an increasingly intuitive, personalized, and efficient experience where devices work together to simplify consumers’ routines.

Price & Availability

The Infinite 1-Way Cassette AC is available in 3.6 kW, 5.2 kW and 7.1 kW cooling capacities, launching at a starting price of INR 160000 through authorised channel partners nationwide. The Family Hub is priced at INR  400690. The Bespoke AI WindFree Pro Air Conditioner is available at a price of INR 69990.

1. Google Gemini is provided by Google LLC. Service availability, supported functions and accuracy may vary by country, language, device model and OS/One UI version. Users must be 18 or older. Some functions may require additional app settings. Features or results may vary by subscription. ︎

Samsung India today announced the launch of the Galaxy S26 FE – the newest addition to the Galaxy S26 family that is engineered around the features that matter most to users.

The smartphone combines an enhanced camera experience, context-aware Galaxy AI, powerful everyday performance, and One UI 9. The Galaxy S26 FE brings together a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with up to a 120Hz refresh rate, an Exynos 2500 processor, a 4900mAh battery, and a versatile triple rear camera system, all packed into a slim and refined design.

“Galaxy S26 FE is designed to bring the best of the Galaxy experience to more consumers in India, with innovations that are meaningful to how they live, work, and create. With flagship camera capabilities, context-aware Galaxy AI, and powerful performance, we are bringing together the experiences consumers value most in a thoughtfully designed smartphone,” said Aditya Babbar, Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India.

A Camera Built for Every Moment

The Galaxy S26 FE’s enhanced triple rear camera system comprises a 50MP wide camera, a 12MP ultra-wide camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, alongside an enhanced 12MP front camera.

The smartphone brings My FanCam to the Galaxy FE series that allows users to select a person and automatically keep them centred in the frame as they move. The feature intelligently reframes video, making it easier to create social-ready content without extensive manual editing.

For users capturing moments on the move, Super Steady with Horizontal Lock delivers smoother, more level footage, whether recording travel experiences, fast-moving activities, or everyday moments. Samsung’s signature Nightography capabilities help users capture brighter and clearer images in low-light conditions, while Photo Assist makes it easier to refine images using natural language prompts.

With Gemini Omni, users can also create and edit video clips using photos and videos from their Gallery to turn everyday memories into ready-to-share content. Galaxy S26 FE includes a six-month Google AI Pro trial¹ for eligible users, unlocking expanded AI capabilities and 5TB of cloud storage.

Galaxy AI That Adapts to You

Galaxy S26 FE comes with the latest One UI 9² that brings a range of context-aware Galaxy AI experiences designed to make everyday interactions more intuitive.

The updated Now Brief offers more personalised information through customisable briefing cards, weather updates, and wellness insights. Users can also create their own cards with a simple prompt. Now Brief expands contextual suggestions across select third-party apps and notifications to help users access relevant information and take action throughout the day, including through Nudge.

Meanwhile, Circle to Search with Google now enables users to search for multiple items at once, making it easier to identify products, places, objects, and more.

Power and Performance for the Day

Galaxy S26 FE is equipped with a 4900mAh battery and supports 45W wired charging to reach up to 69%³ charge in around 30 minutes with a 45W adapter.

The 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display offers up to a 120Hz refresh rate, delivering smooth visuals for streaming, gaming, browsing, and creative work. With up to 1900 nits of brightness⁴, the display is designed to provide an immersive viewing experience across everyday use.

At the heart of Galaxy S26 FE is the Exynos 2500 processor⁵, built on a 3nm process that brings enhanced performance and AI capabilities to the device. The smartphone also carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, adding durability for everyday use.

Designed to Last

Galaxy S26 FE is built for long-term use, supporting up to seven generations of OS upgrades⁶ and seven years of security updates from the global launch date, so users can enjoy the latest features and stay protected for years to come.

An upgraded Smart Switch makes moving to Galaxy easier than ever. Whether switching from an Android or iOS device, users can scan a QR code to wirelessly transfer data, including passwords, passkeys, call history, accessibility settings, and eSIM data, without the need for additional apps, making the setup process simpler and faster.

Together, these features ensure Galaxy S26 FE delivers a dependable, future-ready experience for users across India.

Price and Availability⁷

Customers purchasing the S26 FE can choose from the following offers:

1. Upgrade Bonus: Get up to INR 8000 as an upgrade bonus on exchange of your old device
2. EMI Option:  Enjoy up to 30 months of No-Cost EMI with select NBFC partners, along with an additional INR 3000 upgrade bonus
3. Bank Cashback: Receive INR 7000 cashback on major bank cards OR opt for a 12-month No cost Bank EMI.
4. For eStore purchases, customers can avail of an 18-month bank EMI
   
   

Please note that these offers are mutually exclusive, and customers can select only one option.

1. Trial availability is subject to regional restrictions, device registration, and Google’s eligibility criteria ︎
2. AI features subject to software updates, regional rollout and carrier approvals. Specific features may launch at different times ︎
3. Standard laboratory conditions ︎
4. High Brightness mode varies basis display settings and content ︎
5. Compared to previous Galaxy generations, actual performance may vary basis usage and settings ︎
6. Subject to device compatibility, carrier and regional requirements ︎
7. Availability, specifications, offers and pricing subject to change ︎

After making it to the national Top 40, Ananya Agrawal and Adityasai Balakrishnaganandam have taken another step forward with their technology-led idea exploring a more inclusive approach to recognising emotional cues among autistic individuals experiencing alexithymia.

In this video, the young innovators share how they feel about making it to the Top 20, what the journey so far has meant to them, and what they are looking forward to as they take their idea to the next stage.

Watch team morphism talk about their Top 20 milestone and their journey with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

Samsung India today announced the Top 20 finalists of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, a programme that combines technology and education to help youth grow into future leaders with creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

A global problem-solving platform, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow helps youth around the world use STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to build a better future. Participants identify problems in their communities and develop creative solutions with the help of technology.

In its fifth edition, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 is bringing together young innovators from across India who are turning problems they see around them into technology-led solutions. More than half of the participants in the Top 20 come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, with the finalists representing 18 cities across 12 states – reflecting how youth-led innovation is expanding beyond India’s traditional technology hubs.

“What stands out about this year’s Top 20 is not just the technology they are building, but the problems they have chosen to solve. Young innovators from across India are looking closely at challenges in their own communities – from accessibility and healthcare to agriculture, pollution and sport – and asking how technology can make a difference. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gives them the opportunity, mentorship and resources to take an idea rooted in a local need and build it into a solution with the potential to create wider impact,” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung South West Asia.

A defining trend among this year’s finalists is the focus on making technology more useful and accessible. Across the four themes – AI Living for India, Environmental Sustainability, Health and Education, and Sport & Tech – young innovators are applying AI, computer vision, sensors, voice technology and low-cost wearables to challenges ranging from low literacy and disability access to agricultural waste, pollution, neurological health and para-sports.

Several solutions are being designed for people who have traditionally had limited access to technology. These include an offline AI application that explains complex documents to people with low literacy, real-time Indian Sign Language translation, a voice-first learning companion for visually impaired students, technology to anticipate sensory meltdowns among children with autism, and assistive technologies to help visually impaired swimmers train more independently. Other finalists are tackling environmental challenges through ideas that seek to convert agricultural residue into clean energy and useful carbon materials, reduce textile waste and construction-site pollution, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict.

The geographical spread of the Top 20 reflects this expanding innovation map. Finalists come from Sundargarh in Odisha, Chittoor and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, Raebareli and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Amritsar and SAS Nagar in Punjab, Sonipat in Haryana and Raipur in Chhattisgarh, alongside Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai.

The Top 20 teams emerged from a semi-final phase that brought together 40 teams for an experiential, hands-on Prototyping Programme conducted in collaboration with FITT-IIT Delhi. Through Innovation Bootcamp, the teams worked with mentors to strengthen their solutions, better understand the people they were designing for and gain practical exposure to the innovation process.

As part of the Bootcamp, the teams also visited Samsung Design Delhi (SDD), Samsung R&D Institute India – Noida (SRI-N), Samsung R&D Institute India – Delhi (SRI-D), Samsung R&D Institute India – Bengaluru (SRI-B) and Samsung’s Head Office in Gurugram, gaining exposure to Samsung’s approach to design, technology, innovation and Research & Development.

The journey culminated in a National Pitch Event, where 20 experts comprising mentors from Samsung R&D and Samsung South West Asia evaluated the teams and selected five finalists from each of the four themes.

Meet the Top 20

AI Living for India

4 Percentage – Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu: MicroLearning AI, a voice-first multilingual platform that converts complex healthcare and government-scheme information into simple spoken micro-lessons in Indian languages.

itzFOD – Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh: VaakSetu, an offline mobile application that uses AI to read documents such as loan papers, land deeds, FIRs and hospital forms and explain them in simple spoken language.

JARVISS – Chennai, Tamil Nadu: SafePath AI, a smartphone and IoT-assisted platform that uses AI and sensor data to detect road hazards, assess their severity and provide safer-route recommendations.

QuantHunt – Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh: An AI-based cybersecurity solution designed to identify encryption vulnerabilities and help organisations prepare their digital systems for emerging quantum-computing risks.

SignBridge AI – Kolkata, West Bengal: An AI-powered platform that translates Indian Sign Language into text and speech in real time, helping improve communication in schools, hospitals, workplaces and public spaces.

Environmental Sustainability

AeroShield – New Delhi: A low-cost construction debris net, designed to capture and degrade airborne pollutants while integrating with existing scaffolding.

AgriVolt – Amritsar, Punjab: AgriVolt Carbon AI, which aims to use agricultural residue to generate electricity and recover biochar and other carbon-rich materials while reducing emissions.

IndieJeanous – Mumbai, Maharashtra: A circular denim initiative that converts discarded denim and textile scraps into lifestyle products while creating livelihood opportunities for women artisans.

InnoBotix – New Delhi: Sentinel, a solar-powered AI edge device that uses cameras, radar and seismic data to detect wildlife approaching human settlements and provide early warnings.

KINVA BIO – Sonipat, Haryana: An AI-based platform that seeks to optimise the production of protein-rich mycoprotein from sugarcane bagasse using bioreactors.

Health and Education

404NotFound – Bengaluru, Karnataka: StepSense, a sensor and edge-AI system that turns footwear into a gait-monitoring platform to identify indicators associated with fall risk, neuropathy, fatigue and other health conditions.

Equinox – New Delhi: SARA AI, a voice-first study companion that enables visually impaired students to access textbooks, explanations, quizzes and personalised learning support without relying on a screen or keyboard.

morphism – Raipur, Chhattisgarh: An AI system designed to help autistic individuals better understand emotions by analysing subtle facial expressions and other behavioural signals.

NeuroTrace – SAS Nagar, Punjab: A smartphone-based AI solution for post-stroke monitoring that analyses changes in voice, facial movement and reaction time to identify potential neurological deterioration.

VB SenseGuard – New Delhi: Sense Guard, a low-cost AI wearable designed to identify physiological patterns associated with sensory meltdowns in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and provide caregivers with early alerts.

Sport & Tech

Code Blooded – Sundargarh, Odisha: ParaSync, an AI-powered platform that analyses smartphone videos of para-athletes to assess sporting technique, track progress and help connect talent from underserved regions with scouts.

Para-athlete swimming solution – Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: A wearable navigation system that detects when visually impaired swimmers veer from their intended direction and provides haptic cues for course correction.

Rogue – Chennai, Tamil Nadu: NeuroStride, an AI-powered wearable that seeks to distinguish involuntary Parkinson’s tremors from intentional muscle movement and provide targeted electrical stimulation.

Somatrace – Hyderabad, Telangana: A wearable IoT training tool that measures spinal angles and load during training to help precision-sport athletes and coaches better understand injury risk.

Untethered – Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh: Smart swimming goggles using ultrasonic sensing and haptic feedback to warn visually impaired swimmers as they approach the pool wall.

Taking Solutions to the Next Stage

The Top 20 finalists will now receive continued mentorship from Samsung experts and FITT-IIT Delhi as they prepare for the Grand Finale on October 14 and 15.

The Grand Finale will feature the final pitch presentations, followed by an Investor Meet for all Top 20 teams. The interaction will give the young innovators an opportunity to engage with the startup and investment ecosystem and understand the next steps involved in developing their solutions further

The competition will culminate in the Winner Announcement and Awards Ceremony. The Top 20 teams will receive a cumulative grant of INR 20 lakh for prototype development, with INR 1 lakh awarded to each team. All 36 participants in the Top 20 will also receive the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphone. Four winning teams – one from each theme – will collectively receive an incubation grant of INR 2 crore from Samsung through FITT-IIT Delhi. The incubation support will help the winning teams further develop and validate their solutions while exploring their potential to evolve into market-ready ventures.

The programme will also recognise participants through special awards at the Grand Finale, including the Digital Impact Award of INR 50,000 and two Community Choice Awards of INR 1 lakh each.

Guided by its global CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People,” Samsung India is committed to empowering young Indians through its focus on Smart Education and Skilling Youth, providing equal access to the knowledge, skills and resources needed to shape a better future.

Find the full list to the Top 20 finalists here

Samsung India is now offering the Galaxy S26 series — Samsung’s third-generation AI phones — as part of its Samsung Certified Re-Newed programme (CRN). Available on Samsung.com, Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 devices are in like-new condition and at a great value.

By introducing the Galaxy S26 series to its Certified Re-Newed line-up, Samsung is now giving more customers the chance to experience its latest flagship innovations.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra features the most powerful hardware ever on a Galaxy S series device, an industry-leading camera system and the most intuitive, proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI experiences. It also introduces a built-in Privacy Display, which keeps content clear for the user while limiting what others can see.

Across the line-up, Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 handle complex tasks in the background, allowing users to focus on results, and bring the most intuitive, proactive and adaptive Galaxy AI experiences to more customers.

Every Certified Re-Newed Galaxy device is inspected, cleaned, refurbished and tested through a Samsung-certified renewal process to meet Samsung’s standards for quality, performance and reliability.

Where required, parts are replaced with genuine Samsung parts, and each device includes a Samsung-certified battery that meets Samsung’s quality standards. Devices are also reset to remove personal data and updated with the latest software before being made available to customers.

Every Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S26 series device comes with a one-year company warranty, giving customers added peace of mind when choosing a renewed Galaxy device through Samsung’s official programme.

Availability

Galaxy S26 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Certified Re-Newed devices will be available on Samsung.com and Samsung Shop app across India.

Availability, model line-up, colours, storage options, pricing, warranty terms and promotional offers may vary by market.

Every innovation starts with something simple: noticing that something could work better.

For the young innovators of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, the next question is harder: how do you turn that observation into something real?

During an immersive Innovation Bootcamp, the Top 40 stepped inside Samsung’s innovation ecosystem across Gurugram, Delhi, Noida and Bengaluru to see how ideas are understood, designed, engineered, tested and refined.

Their journey took them through Samsung’s Head Office in Gurugram, Samsung Design Delhi, Samsung R&D Institute India-Noida (SRI-Noida) and Samsung R&D Institute India-Bengaluru (SRI-B) — bringing them closer to the people, processes and technologies behind some of Samsung’s innovations.

Addressing the young innovators, JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung South West Asia, spoke about where the next generation of ideas could come from.

“Great ideas can come from anywhere. They can come from a small town, a classroom, a college or from a young person simply looking at a problem in their own community.”

That idea is reflected in this year’s cohort. More than half of the participants come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, bringing with them problems and perspectives shaped by communities across India.

Start With People

At Samsung Design Delhi, the young innovators saw that innovation doesn’t begin with technology. It begins with people.

Inside spaces including Rang and the Colour, Material and Finish (CMF) Lab, they explored how designers think about the way people see, touch and experience products — and how choices around colour, material, texture and form can shape that experience.

It was a lesson in looking beyond the solution itself.

Before asking what can be built, understand who you are building it for.

Make It Work

At SRI-Noida, the focus shifted from design to engineering.

The innovators explored areas including PCB design, sensory equipment and AI applications, getting a closer look at what happens when an idea has to work beyond a sketch or a prototype.

Ideas are tested. Assumptions are challenged. Problems emerge. Designs change.

That process of iteration is what turns a promising idea into something that can work reliably in the real world.

At SRI-B, the view widened further. The young innovators explored research across AI, multimedia and camera technologies, advanced communications, IoT and services — technologies that are helping shape the next generation of connected experiences.

Taken together, the visits traced an innovation journey: understand a need, design around people, engineer a solution, test it and keep making it better.

Learning From Each Other

The Bootcamp was also about the people in the room.

Young innovators from different parts of India arrived with different problems to solve — but discovered that many of the questions they were asking were the same.

How do you know if an idea will work? What happens when it doesn’t? How do you make it better?

“A big thank you to Samsung Solve for Tomorrow for this opportunity and for supporting young innovators like us throughout the journey. Now, it’s time to refine, build, learn,” said Priyanka Yadav from Gurugram, Haryana.

“One of my favourite memories from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Bootcamp was meeting passionate young innovators from every corner of India, each working to solve a different problem, but all driven by the same belief — innovation should improve lives. I am grateful for the friendships, conversations and inspiration,” said Vidit Bhayana from Delhi.

Conducted in collaboration with FITT-IIT Delhi, the Innovation Bootcamp provided the teams with mentoring and prototyping support as they continued developing solutions across AI Living for India, Health and Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport & Tech.

The Work After the Idea

For the Top 40, seeing Samsung’s design and R&D ecosystem first-hand offered something that is difficult to learn from a classroom alone.

Innovation is rarely a straight line.

An idea is questioned. A prototype is tested. Something fails. You learn why. You change it. Then you try again.

The most important part of an idea may not be the moment you have it.

It may be everything you do next.

For these young innovators, that work has already begun.

Three young innovators from Maharashtra are bringing technology-led solutions to the national stage through the fifth edition of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Representing the themes of AI Living for India and Environmental Sustainability, the innovators from Mumbai and Pune are exploring solutions for small-business financial access, safer firefighting, marine conservation and textile waste.

16-year-old Shrihan Jha, 17-year-old Palaash Gang, and 21-year-old Yogeeta Kishor Suwasiya have been selected among the national Top 40 of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung’s flagship CSR innovation programme for young people aged 14 to 22.

AI Living for India

Shrihan Jha from Mumbai is exploring how artificial intelligence can make financial systems more accessible to small businesses. He is developing an app that analyses handwritten bills and UPI payments to generate credit scores, supported by an AI-powered financial chatbot. The solution aims to help small businesses build a more formal financial profile and potentially improve their access to credit.

Environmental Sustainability

Palaash Gang from Pune is working on making firefighting more environmentally responsible. He is developing a biodegradable alternative to traditional PFAS-based firefighting foams. Made using fish-scale waste, the solution explores a collagen-chitosan network designed to suppress fuel vapours without relying on harmful petrochemicals.

Yogeeta Kishor Suwasiya from Mumbai is addressing the growing challenge of textile waste. She is developing a circular denim ecosystem that transforms discarded fabric into lifestyle products, while using material tracking and partnerships with women artisans to extend the life of textiles.

Together, the three solutions show how Maharashtra’s young innovators are approaching challenges across financial inclusion, environmental protection, sustainable materials and circular design, using technology to explore new ways of addressing issues around them.

Their selection is part of a wider national cohort taking shape through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. More than half of this year’s Top 40 teams are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, highlighting how young people across India are bringing their own experiences and observations to challenges that matter to their communities.

For Maharashtra, the three finalists showcase how young innovators from Mumbai and Pune are applying technology to both everyday economic challenges and pressing environmental concerns.

Through design thinking, mentorship and hands-on learning, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow enables young innovators from across India to identify real-world challenges and develop potential solutions, helping them move from the early stages towards prototypes.

The Top 40 teams will now participate in a 10-day Innovation Bootcamp, receiving intensive mentoring from startup founders and industry experts at FITT-IIT Delhi. They will also visit Samsung R&D Institute India – Delhi, Noida and Bangalore, Samsung Design Delhi and Samsung’s Regional Headquarters in Gurugram.

The teams will then compete for a place in the Top 20, which will receive further support to strengthen their solutions ahead of the Grand Finale.

At the culmination of the programme, four winning teams will collectively receive incubation grants worth INR 2 crore, along with incubation support from FITT-IIT Delhi, helping them take their solutions towards further development and market readiness.

For Maharashtra’s three young innovators, reaching the national Top 40 marks the next stage in their journey — bringing locally observed challenges to a national platform and exploring how technology can help create more accessible and sustainable solutions.