Samsung R&D Institute-India, Bengaluru (SRI-B) marked a special milestone this year with ‘Sarang’, its Annual Day celebration commemorating 30 years of innovation, growth and people. More than just an annual gathering, the event stood as a tribute to a remarkable journey shaped by vision, perseverance and purpose.

Long before Bengaluru became synonymous with technology and innovation, a small team of engineers began their journey in 1996 under Samsung India Software Operations — the original name of SRI-B. What started as a modest beginning, driven by curiosity and determination, has since evolved into one of the strongest innovation hubs within Samsung’s global technology ecosystem. Over the years, this early foundation grew into a centre known for breakthrough ideas and reimagined technologies, reflecting the powerful synergy of Korean ambition and Indian passion.

From contributing to the world’s first 3G, 4G and 5G releases to supporting Make in India initiatives and delivering flagship innovations for Galaxy S series and Z series, SRI-B has consistently driven meaningful progress. Those early years were defined by experimentation, long hours and an unwavering spirit to build something enduring — a spirit that continues to define the centre today.

Sarang brought this extraordinary journey to life in a visually captivating way. The evening began with inspiring remarks from Mohan Rao Goli, Managing Director, SRI-B, whose address reflected on the past, celebrated the present and envisioned an even more ambitious future. Nearly 2,000 employees attended the celebration, which featured a breathtaking sand art performance illustrating SRI-B’s story.

“Over the past three decades, we have achieved remarkable growth by embracing technological advancements, anticipating change, and delivering innovations that seamlessly integrate into people’s everyday lives. While technology serves as a powerful enabler, it is our people who remain the true catalysts of this transformative journey. Every breakthrough and milestone stands as a testament to the creativity, ideas and passion of our teams. As we celebrate this significant occasion, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has contributed to SRI-B’s journey. I look forward with confidence and optimism to the years ahead, and I hope that three decades from now, we will once again come together to celebrate our shared passion, innovation and success”, said Mohan Rao Goli, CVP and Managing Director, SRI-B.

The event also showcased vibrant performances — from a music jam session by leaders and stand-up comedy by Sumukhi Suresh to energetic dance and musical acts by employees and leadership alike. Annual awards recognising SRIBians for their exemplary contributions were also announced. Altogether, the evening seamlessly blended celebration, excellence and passion.

Beyond the performances and festivities, Sarang highlighted a deeper purpose. One of the most memorable moments of the evening was seeing students from a government school in Kolar walk the ramp alongside SRI-B leaders. During the ceremony, leaders were joined on stage by students from the school supported by SRI-B this year — not as beneficiaries, but as equals. The walk symbolised Samsung’s core ethos: leadership is at its best when it walks with the future, learning from it and enabling it.

SRI-B also acknowledged its extended support ecosystem, including teams from Suwon, Seoul and Samsung’s Global R&D Centres (GRCs), whose collaboration has been integral to this journey.

Samsung’s people-centric philosophy has always been one of its greatest strengths, and Sarang beautifully reaffirmed this commitment. More than an event, it was a heartfelt expression of gratitude, unity and forward momentum.

As the lights dimmed and applause filled the venue, one thing was clear: the story that began with a handful of engineers in 1996 is still being written — and its most exciting chapters lie ahead.

On September 19, a heartwarming wave of joy swept through over 100 government schools across Karnataka as 92 volunteers from Samsung R&D Institute, Bengaluru (SRI-B) distributed new notebooks to 8,650 students.

Walking into classrooms filled with laughter and excitement, the volunteers were met with eager faces and bright smiles. Each notebook symbolized more than paper — it carried hope, encouragement, and the promise of a brighter future.

“In each notebook, write down your dream. Work towards it each day as you see it and very soon you would realise, you’re only getting closer to your dream,” said Mohan Rao Goli, Managing Director and Corporate Vice President, SRI-B, as he inspired students to believe in their aspirations.

The initiative stemmed from a needs-assessment survey conducted across 530 schools in districts such as Bagalkot, Bengaluru, Chikkaballapur, Chitradurga, Dharwad, Kalaburagi, Kolar, Koppal, Mysuru, and Tumakuru — where 489 schools expressed a pressing need for notebooks.

Teachers and principals expressed heartfelt gratitude for the initiative. Uma S.K., Principal of GMHPS, BEML Nagar, said, “SRI-B’s Notebook Donation Initiative has ensured our students have the right tools to pursue their learning needs.”

This was the third edition of SRI-B’s Notebook Donation Drive, which previously supported schools in 2018 and 2019. Over the years, SRI-B has also contributed through initiatives such as providing student desks, flipboards, RO filters, and even rebuilding schools — all aimed at nurturing inclusive and inspiring learning environments.

The notebook drive is part of SRI-B’s broader CSR outreach efforts, including programs like Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to empowering young minds through education and community development.

Young Indians are ready to step up and solve real-world problems

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, a national innovation challenge for 14-22 year olds, is transforming campuses in Bengaluru into launch pads of the future.

Launched on April 29, the latest season of the innovation contest is spreading across India through a series of design thinking workshops and Open Houses—reaching not just major metros but also the vibrant heartlands of the Northeast. The programme encourages youth to identify real-world issues in their communities and develop meaningful tech-based solutions.

This year, the programme will offer INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams, along with opportunities for hands-on prototyping, expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty, and valuable investor connects—giving young minds the support they need to bring their ideas to life.

In Bengaluru, more than 3,000 students from five leading schools and colleges came together this month to dream big, think bold and build solutions for India’s future. As part of the programme’s roadshows and open houses, classrooms were transformed into buzzing hubs of ideas and inspiration.

From medical colleges to high schools, the message was clear: young Indians are ready to step up and solve real-world problems—armed with empathy, technology and a passion to bring meaningful change.

At Dr Chandramma Dayananda Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research, students gathered to explore how health and innovation intersect. For Ritwika, the experience was transformative.

“The workshop helped me understand how to really think—not just of ideas, but of how to plan and build them. I’ve always been bothered by how we manage waste around us. Now, with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, I want to work on better waste segregation systems. It made me realise that we’re not just students—we can be problem solvers.”

Similar energy echoed through Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, where Rudra left the workshop thinking not just as a medical student, but as a changemaker.

“I finally understood what design thinking really means,” he said. “It’s not just a process—it’s a mindset. I want to work on ideas around energy conservation that help society at large. This programme gave me the clarity I needed to start.”

The spark wasn’t limited to colleges alone. In schools like National Centre for Excellence, Sandeepani School, and AECS School, younger students were just as fired up to bring change.

Deeksha, a student passionate about the environment, found her path through technology.

“I used to think solving environmental problems needed years of research. But this workshop taught me to first define the problem clearly—and then start thinking of practical solutions. With Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, I want to build tech-based solutions for sustainability. There’s so much scope here—and I believe I can make a difference.”

The programme is not just about problem-solving—it is also about planting the seeds of entrepreneurship. For Anish, the workshop became the launchpad for a bigger dream.

“Before this, I didn’t know where to begin. But Samsung Solve for Tomorrow gave me the foundation to think like a founder. I want to work on issues around wildlife conservation and eventually start up in this space.”

Across each workshop, one thing was consistent—the commitment Samsung has made to empower India’s youth, encouraging them to look at their communities, identify pressing problems, and innovate with purpose.

As the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow roadshows wrap up in Bengaluru, they leave behind not just filled notebooks, but lit-up minds—ready to reimagine India, one solution at a time.

Leading telecom operator Vodafone Idea (Vi) today announced the commercial launch of 5G services by partnering with Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (Samsung) in Bengaluru region, one of the key telecom markets in India and a global IT hub known as the “Silicon Valley of India”. Since 2024, the companies have been working together to deploy a new generation, 5G network and modernize Vi’s legacy 2G and 4G networks with Samsung’s industry-leading solutions in major telecom circles of India including Bihar, Karnataka and Punjab.

As part of this collaboration, Vi had already launched 5G commercial services in Chandigarh and Patna in April 2025. Vi has successfully deployed Samsung’s small form-factor, energy-efficient and high transmit power radios for enabling a seamless 5G experience across all the three circles. These solutions offer increased cell capacity and energy savings features to deliver better consumer experience with greener and more sustainable approaches for Vi’s customers.

For this deployment, Samsung provided its wide range of radios supporting diverse spectrum bands, including 32T32R Massive MIMO radios, along with Radio Access Network (RAN) solutions that encompass baseband and software functions known as the virtualized Central Unit (vCU).

The companies have also implemented the nation’s first virtualized Base Station Controller (vBSC), a key network element for 2G services, thereby modernizing its network with cutting-edge software solutions while still ensuring legacy technology and services are supported.

Virtualization of network functionalities enable Vi to streamline network deployment and facilitate easier management, which results in greater efficiency, lower operational costs, better resource allocation control, and increased customer satisfaction. With this virtualization adoption, operators can build software-based and flexible networks more easily, gaining a competitive edge in bringing future networks.

Jagbir Singh, Chief Technology Officer, Vodafone Idea said: “The launch of Vi’s 5G services in Bengaluru as well as Chandigarh and Patna, marks a key step in introducing Samsung as a new partner in our ecosystem and towards delivering seamless, highly reliable next-generation services to our customers. By partnering with Samsung, our endeavor is to offer the best customer experience and provide our customers with enhanced mobile broadband throughputs and high capacity required in today’s digitally connected world.”

Woojune Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics said: “India, especially Bengaluru, stands at the forefront of the global digital transformation, and we are proud to accompany Vi’s innovative journey in delivering next-generation connectivity to its customers in one of the world’s most dynamic and advanced IT markets. Samsung always thinks a step ahead, anticipating future needs of mobile operators. Through this collaboration, Samsung is fully committed in supporting Vi to satisfy the demands of mobile users and boost enterprise growth with our innovative spirits.”

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 has made its way to South India, fueling a wave of youth-driven innovation. Across the dynamic campuses of Hyderabad and the bustling tech hubs of Bengaluru, students are uniting to envision a brighter future for their communities, armed with empathy, purpose, and the principles of design thinking.  

Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.

At the University of Hyderabad, hundreds of students immersed themselves in a design thinking workshop, challenging the status quo and uncovering solutions to everyday problems.  

“For me, the turning point was when the instructor said, ‘There are countless problems in the world, but only a few who take action to solve them,’” said R. Deepika, a Business Analytics student. “That statement inspired me to become one of those problem-solvers and create meaningful impact.”   

Mukta, a Healthcare and Hospital Management student, also experienced a shift in perspective. “This session taught me to think like an entrepreneur. A simple idea can transform the world, and now I’m determined to bring mine to life,” she said.  

The momentum didn’t stop in there. At KG Reddy Engineering College in Hyderabad, D. Ganesh Reddy, a BTech Computer Science Engineering student, left the workshop with a clear understanding of how technology can address local challenges.  

“The session showed me that student ideas can lead to real-world change if we approach them with curiosity and structure,” he said.  

Similarly, over 500 students from top institutions like Jain University, Dr. Chandrama Dayanand Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research, and Kempowda Institute of Medical Sciences gathered to explore design thinking and innovation in action.  

“This workshop opened my eyes to the problems in my own community,” said Joel J, a second-semester B.Tech student. “For the first time, I realized I could be the one to solve them.”  

A Movement for Innovation  

Across these cities, the workshops have done more than generate ideas—they’ve sparked confidence. Confidence that young minds, with the right mindset and guidance, can drive transformative change.  

As Solve for Tomorrow continues its journey across India, it’s not just expanding its reach—it’s unlocking new possibilities. From Hyderabad to Bengaluru and soon to regions like the North-East, the program is cultivating a future powered by student-led innovation.  

Applications are open, and the next generation of problem-solvers is already in motion.  

Let the ideas flow.

As summer holidays bring a wave of curiosity and eagerness to learn among students, Samsung Opera House seized the opportunity to inspire young minds with a unique AI photography and editing masterclass.

Held at the majestic Samsung Opera House in the heart of Bengaluru, this workshop provided students with a hands-on experience using the revolutionary Galaxy S24 Ultra, demonstrating the future of photography.

Nurturing Young Talents Through AI

The masterclass was designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of photography, including essential techniques in composition, lighting, and angles, with a particular focus on travel photography. With the Galaxy S24 Ultra as their tool, students explored the seamless integration of AI in enhancing their photographic skills.

The workshop not only covered the basics but also delved into advanced editing techniques, showcasing how AI can elevate their creative expressions.

The Galaxy S24 Ultra stood out as the highlight of the workshop, featuring its unparalleled camera capabilities. Equipped with a state-of-the-art 200 rear camera, advanced AI-driven enhancements, and an array of lenses, the S24 Ultra empowers users to capture stunning details with ease.

The AI photography features allowed students to see firsthand how technology can automatically adjust settings for the perfect shot, whether in bright daylight or low-light conditions.

Samsung Opera House has a rich legacy of merging culture with technology. Originally built in the 19th century, it has been transformed into a cutting-edge digital playground, offering visitors a glimpse into the latest in Samsung’s innovations. The venue continues to be a hub for creativity and learning, hosting various events and workshops that inspire the community.

Commenting on the learnings at the workshop, one of the participants, Vishal N said, “I am thrilled to see all that I could do with the help of Galaxy AI. This masterclass is not only fun but also an opportunity to be educated about the innovations through advanced technologies. The Galaxy S24 Ultra is not just a smartphone; it’s a tool for creativity and learning, and I am excited to see how I am able to utilize my newfound skills with photography.”

As the summer unfolds, Samsung Opera House will continue to offer such enriching experiences, ensuring that students remain engaged and inspired, all while exploring the boundless possibilities that technology has to offer.

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has announced it will set up 15 premium experience stores across top metro cities in India by end of 2023, bringing in exciting new technology experiences for consumers and creating a benchmark in premium electronics retail in the country.

The new experience stores will come up at iconic locations across top metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune and Chandigarh.

These stores will showcase Samsung’s complete product ecosystem through exciting zones such as Samsung SmartThings, Smartphones, Audio, Gaming, Lifestyle Screens, Consumer Electronics, Home Theatre and Wearables, showcasing its multi-device connectivity with SmartThings.

The SmartThings zone will showcase how Samsung’s connected living ecosystem can create convenience for consumers in their daily lives. This includes highlighting how a smartphone, refrigerator, AC, home theatre, TV and other devices can connect to each other and provide convenience to consumers. The SmartThings zone will also include scenarios such as Work from Home to show how a Samsung monitor, laptop, tab and smartphone connect to improve productivity, or how you can switch on your ACs remotely so that the your home is cooled even before you reach, or even a home kitchen experience.

For young gaming enthusiasts, these experience stores will have dedicated gaming zones where they can spend time on their favourite games. They can experience the power of Samsung Galaxy S23 flagship smartphones and Samsung’s premium Odyssey Ark gaming monitors as they play.

“As a brand focused on ever evolving customer’s needs, we have seen that demand for our premium products has increased with nearly two thirds of our consumers choosing a premium device at our Samsung Experience Stores. To tap into this growing consumers demand, we are setting up 15 Premium Experience Stores across India that will offer the widest portfolio of Samsung’s curated premium products as well as experiences such as our SmartThings ecosystem, Gaming, Lifestyle Screens, product customization,” said Mr. Sumit Walia, Senior Director, D2C Business, Samsung India.

“These products and experiences will not only provide our customers with an in-person, immersive look at Samsung technology but also help them engage with the brand more meaningfully,” he said.

Consumers, especially Gen Z and millennials, will have the opportunity to attend the many Galaxy Workshops and activities that will be organized at the premium experience stores as part of the Learn @ Samsung initiative. These Galaxy Workshops will be around photography, video-editing, gaming, music, coding, doodling, baking and many other topics, helping young consumers pursue shared interests as well as learn about Samsung’s innovations and how to use their smartphones and other Samsung products more efficiently.

At the customization counter, young consumers can have a DIY smartphone cover customization experience using stickers and other accessories.

Samsung’s new premium experience stores will also offer a phygital experience through Samsung’s Store+ endless aisle platform. With Store+, consumers can buy any Samsung product, from among 1,200 options across its portfolio, even if they are not available at the stores. Consumers can buy products using a Store+ digital catalogue and it is delivered directly to their home. Consumers can also access Samsung’s digital lending platform Samsung Finance+ and Samsung’s device care plan for Galaxy smartphones, tablets and smartwatches Samsung Care+ at the stores.

Consumers visiting the premium experience stores will also be able to get hassle-free after sales service for their smartphones and book service calls for their consumer electronics products at home.

The  70-seater Starbucks outlet was inaugurated by Mr. JongBum Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia and Mr. Sushant Dash, CEO of Tata Starbucks during an event at the iconic Samsung Opera House. The event included a riveting coffee-tasting session, a friend’s and family event and a music performance that enthralled the audience.

Here are a few glimpses from the launch –

Samsung is celebrating the fourth anniversary of its iconic experience center, Samsung Opera House, which has become a hub of technology, art, and culture since it opened in 2018.

Over its anniversary weekend, Samsung Opera House organized a captivating K-fiesta, a Korean-pop-themed cultural and music festival where hundreds of young K-pop fans from across schools and colleges in Bengaluru, including Samsung Members, grooved to K-pop songs by Indian K-pop bands. The young audience enjoyed K-pop concert screenings, movie screenings, dance performances, a cosplay competition, and an exquisite Korean cuisine workshop.

The event at Samsung Opera House had a mini flea market with stalls like K-merch, K-food, K-beauty, and Hanbok (traditional Korean clothes) trial stalls. The two-day event saw over 5,000 Samsung and K-pop fans visit the iconic experience center.

Team IndHangul, a community that runs a platform for K-pop and K-drama fans in India, in partnership with Samsung Opera House also organized a talent hunt competition “Put Your Sneakers On” with three categories – Team Dance, Solo Dance, and Vocals, and multiple games for K-pop fans.

The two-day event was a not only celebration of Korean culture but also of Samsung Opera House, which has become more than just an experience center. Samsung Opera House today is a hub where Gen-Z and millennials come together to connect, learn, and get inspired, facilitating an exchange of new and innovative ideas.

In the last four years, Samsung Opera house has hosted over 600 events that include product launches, live music, OTT Movie Premier, cultural performances, fashion shows, gaming tournaments, stand-up acts, and Galaxy workshops.

It recently hosted an event with college students on Samsung’s CSR initiative Solve for Tomorrow, which is an education and innovation competition for youth. One can immerse themselves in the world of gaming, experience the powerful audio system at the Home theatre, live multi-device experience, and even get to pick up some culinary skills at the Chef’s kitchen workshops.

Samsung Opera House continues to don the magnificent original look on its façade from the 1900s, while on the inside, it is a modern experiential space, with extensive use of state-of-the-art technology. It displays a full lineup of Samsung smartphones and wearable devices alongside flagship consumer electronic products. It also has a fully functional customer service center and is equipped with high-speed internet for people who wish to work from its Home office zone.

Over 10,000 youth from across towns, cities and rural India have already registered for Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow innovation and education program, showcasing the growing desire among Indian youth to find innovative technology solutions to solve real-world problems that will have a positive social impact on the lives of people around them.

At roadshows that Samsung conducted in cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar, young students said they want to solve problems around safe collection of waste for recycling, job security for daily wagers, language barriers that young students from remote areas face during e-learning, safe disposal of sanitary napkins, mental health of school students, reusing agricultural waste as well as reusing plastics.

Among the registrations, 32% of youth want to solve problems of healthcare, 28% want to tackle challenges around education, especially better learning opportunities for students, 24% focused on problems around environment while 16% want to solve issues around agriculture.

Youth who are between 16 and 22 years of age can apply for Solve for Tomorrow till July 31, 2022. They can apply here: www.samsung.com/in/solvefortomorrow.

This will be followed by selection of the top 50 teams, who will be mentored by industry experts and others experts at IIT Delhi to help enhance their ideas, along with a boot-camp at IIT Delhi, a certificate of participation, and vouchers worth INR 100,000 for online courses in design thinking, STEM, innovation, leadership, among others.

Top 10 teams will get the opportunity to visit Samsung India offices and its R&D centres where they will interact with young Samsung employees and researchers. They will also experience the Samsung product ecosystem at the iconic Samsung Opera House in Bengaluru.

Three winning teams stand a chance to get mega support of up to INR 1 crore and mentoring support for six months to turn their ideas into action under the expert guidance of IIT Delhi.

Registration for Solve for Tomorrow closes 5 pm on July 31, 2022.