Attended by Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer (CDO) at Samsung Electronics; Giusy Versace, Senator of the Italian Republic; Ollie Dudfield, Olympism365 Associate Director at IOC; and Domenico De Maio, Education & Culture Director of the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation, the Exhibition provided a space in which selected Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors could directly showcase their solutions on the biggest stage.

▲ Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer of Samsung Electronics, takes a commemorative selfie with global Samsung Solve for Tomorrow ambassadors at the exhibition venue.

▲ A view of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow exhibition held in Milan, Italy, showcasing innovative solutions developed by youth ambassadors from around the world.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a global platform that empowers young innovators to address real-world challenges using skills in the fields of AI technology or STEM. By fostering creativity and critical thinking, the program encourages students to innovate and develop impactful solutions to local and global issues. Through hands-on projects, participants gain the skills and confidence to tackle complex problems, transforming their ideas into actionable solutions. This initiative not only nurtures the next generation of leaders but also strengthens the global community by connecting young minds across borders to share knowledge and inspire collective progress. After the work Samsung did for Solve for Tomorrow with the IOC in the lead up to Paris 2024, the program has been strengthened through the collaboration with the IOC by launching “Social Change Through Sport & Technology – Sport & Tech” as one of the global themes for Solve for Tomorrow competition 2025.

Displayed as prototypes in their respective booths were AKQUA-Gel, an AI-based smart bandage solution that monitors wound healing in real time and supports early infection detection through sensor data developed by Arya Anilkumar, Anna Huang, Aishwarya Reddy, Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya, and Elaine Zuo; and Kroove, a Solve for Tomorrow Italy-winning community-based app developed by Davide Casciaro and Francesco Emmanuel Stringaro that promotes sporting activities.

A key principle of Solve for Tomorrow is design thinking, which involves innovators learning how to manifest their ideas as usable, tangible objects in the real world. As such, the Ambassadors also took part in a bespoke Innovation workshop led by the Olympism365 Innovation Hub, organized collaboratively by Samsung and the IOC — with the objective of preparing them for what is next in their innovation journeys.

▲ Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer of Samsung Electronics, delivers a keynote speech at the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Global ambassador Exhibition held in Milan, Italy.

“At Samsung, we believe that young people already have what it takes to build a better future,” said Mauro Porcini, CDO at Samsung Electronics. “Our role is to support that journey — to provide the space, the tools and the trust that allow their ideas to grow into something meaningful.”

“The solutions exhibited today were truly impressive and are a hallmark of improving communities through passion and ingenuity,” said Senator Giusy Versace. “With future leaders as innovative as the Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors, it is clear that the world is in good hands.”

Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors Exhibit Solutions

Each booth at the Exhibition allowed hands-on experience of a Solve for Tomorrow solution, with the students on hand to introduce the problem they identified, the solution they developed and how technology plays a role in bringing that solution to life. Guests were able to ask questions, engage with the students, and experience their ideas firsthand.

▲ Danielle Yang from the U.S. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow ambassador team, Storm Shield, presents a wearable solution designed to enable safe physical activity while using hearing assistive devices.

For example, at the Storm Shield experience, guests tried on the headband and a demonstrator approached them from two meters away. As they approached — indicating an obstacle — the headband vibrated, with vibrations varying depending on distance. At the MyVision Experience, guests were able to walk slowly with the cane, which recognized obstacles on the floor and vibrated to alert the user to danger.

Meanwhile, the AKQUA-Gel and Kroove booths provided in-depth, interactive explanations of the ways in which the prototype solutions provided smarter health solutions and brought communities together through sports, respectively.

At the exhibition, there were all ten solutions from the Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors, as follows:

The Five Sport & Tech Ambassador Teams

Australia | Team Up: Ahan Khiani

An AI-based platform that connects individuals with local sports teams and communities to increase participation in recreational sports.

Indonesia | Run Sight: Anthony Feriyanto

A wearable AI solution that helps people with visual impairments safely participate in running and other physical activities by detecting lanes and obstacles.

Türkiye | Poseidon: Umut Devrim Deveci

A swimming safety system for visually impaired users that provides vibration alerts through a wristband when approaching boundaries or obstacles.

Great Britain | Curastep: Raye Woon

Smart sneakers equipped with sensors to detect early signs of blister formation in people with diabetes and encourage safe physical activity.

United States | Storm Shield: Danielle Yang

A protective sports headband designed to shield hearing aids from moisture, impact and environmental damage during physical activity.

The Five Accessibility and Environment Ambassador Teams

China | Furen Makers: Chenyue Wang

A brainwave-controlled wheelchair designed to support people with ALS and physical disabilities in mobility, rehabilitation and sports participation.

France | Liova: Simon Cénet 

A reusable battery production kit that transforms discarded smartphone batteries into portable power banks to reduce electronic waste.

India | Paraspeak: Pranet Khetan

A cloud-based AI solution that converts unclear speech into clear pronunciation in real time for people with speech impairments.

Türkiye | Oilsorb: irem Erden

A sustainable oil spill response solution using reusable wool-based oil absorption pads and drone technology to address marine pollution.

United States | AKQUA-Gel: Arya Anilkumar

An AI-powered smart bandage that monitors wound healing in real time and supports early infection detection through sensor data.

The Spirit of Excellence in the Pursuit of Unity

Through Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung supports the journey of expanding the potential of youth into social impact around the world. It is with this in mind that the company hosted the Solve for Tomorrow Exhibition while another global event celebrating excellence and togetherness, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Each event represents a yearslong journey in the pursuit of excellence for the greater good, the transition of potential to real impact.

“It is energizing to witness the Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors showcase their innovative solutions firsthand, particularly in the context of the Olympic Games Milano Cortina 2026, which placed a strong emphasis on inspiring and educating young people across Italy to encourage participation, inclusion and lifelong engagement in sport,” said Ollie Dudfield, Olympism365 Associate Director at IOC. “The work of the Ambassadors reflects our shared belief — across the IOC, Samsung and Milano Cortina 2026 — in youth engagement and in the impact sport and technology can have as catalysts for positive social change.”

“These young Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors have put in long, difficult, hours — all in the name of benefiting their communities,” said Domenico De Maio, Education & Culture Director at the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation. “Seeing the incredible results of all that work is awe-inspiring, and the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation is proud to have been associated with this Exhibition.”

Find out more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow at https://csr.samsung.com/en/.

The announcement was made in Milan, where the ambassador program announcement is being held in conjunction with the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The three-day program runs from Feb. 8–10 and includes an appointment ceremony, a solution exhibition and networking activities.

Solve for Tomorrow is Samsung’s global problem-solving platform that supports young people in developing innovative STEM-based solutions to address local and global challenges. This year’s global ambassadors were selected from winning teams of Solve for Tomorrow regional competitions around the world, with the final selection being made through a joint evaluation by Samsung and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) based on the innovation, scalability and social impact of each solution. The 10 selected teams are divided into two focus areas — Sport & Tech, and Accessibility & Environment — with five teams chosen in each category.

As part of the Ambassador program, each selected team will receive funding, along with up to two years of continued support from Samsung to help transform their prototypes into commercially viable products. Five teams in the Sport & Tech category will be jointly supported by Samsung and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

During the ceremony, two Solve for Tomorrow alumni — Danielle Yang, a Samsung Solve For Tomorrow Ambassador in Sport & Tech, and Simon Cénet of Team Liova from France — shared personal stories and insights on youth innovation and the real-world impact of their projects.

Yang, who has a hearing disability herself, explained her motivation for participating in the program, stating, “I joined Samsung Solve for Tomorrow to address the challenges I experienced in my daily life.” She added, “With the support of Samsung Electronics and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), I am truly honored and delighted to have the opportunity to share my idea with the world, even on the Olympic stage.”

“Through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, I gained the confidence that my idea can create positive change in society,” said İrem Erden, an Ambassador from Türkiye who won a regional competition with OilSorb, a marine oil spill response solution that utilizes reusable wool-based oil absorption pads and drones. “As a selected ambassador, I will strive to inspire more generations.”

 

 

Sustainable Innovation in Sport & Tech

Held under the theme “Sport & Tech,” the aim of Samsung’s 2026 Ambassador program is to empower youth to drive sustainable innovation through the intersection of sports, technology and leadership. The official appointment ceremony took place at Samsung House in Milan and was attended by approximately 80 global stakeholders, including IOC President Kirsty Coventry; Jae Youl Kim, IOC Executive Board Member and President of Samsung Global Research; Olympism 365 Commission Chair Auvita Rapilla; Olympism 365 Commission Member Nawal El Moutawakel; and Won-Jin Lee, President and Head of Global Marketing at Samsung Electronics.

 

Commitment moment in the appointment ceremony underscored the shared commitment of Samsung and the IOC to jointly nurturing future talent and empowering young people to help shape a better world. This commitment was brought to life through a stage performance in which the composite logos of both organizations were brought together by unfolding and overlapping the Galaxy Z TriFold, completing the visual composition. The act of opening the Galaxy Z TriFold symbolically represented the expansion of ideas and potential, as well as the shared belief of Samsung and the IOC in opening new possibilities as young people step forward to lead the future.

 

“The projects are truly inspiring: full of creativity, imagination, and passion to make a real difference. You’re using technology to shape a future that is more inclusive, more sustainable, healthier and more active,” said IOC President Coventry. “I am especially excited to see the first-ever Sport & Tech winners — combining sport, technology, and problem-solving in ways that can truly change lives.”

 

“Through Solve for Tomorrow and our collaboration with the IOC, we are creating environments where young people can discover their strengths, express their ideas, and contribute meaningfully to society,” said Global Marketing Head Lee. “We are not only supporting innovation but also nurturing future leaders who will carry forward the values of excellence, respect, friendship — and creativity.”

 

Solution Exhibition and Innovation Workshop

On Feb. 9, the ambassador teams will showcase the solutions they developed at Smart City Lab in Milan and attend an innovation-themed workshop led by the IOC’s Olympism365 Innovation Hub that will equip the ambassadors with the skills to be an innovator of sustainable development in the world of sports. The exhibition will be attended by representatives from the IOC, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee and various Italian government agencies.

 

On Feb. 10, the ambassadors will take part in a series of on-site programs and official activities, as well as a visit to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village. Through these experiences, Samsung is supporting the ambassadors in deepening their understanding of sports, technology and the meaning of the Olympic Games and the Olympic spirit.

 

 

Details regarding the 10 newly selected Solve for Tomorrow Ambassador teams and their projects are as follows:

 

The Five Sport & Tech Ambassador Teams

 

Australia | TeamUp: Ahan Kiani

An AI-based platform that connects individuals with local sports teams and communities to increase participation in recreational sports.

 

Indonesia | Run Sight: Anthony Edbert Feriyanto, Kaindra Rizq Sachio, Muhammed Fazil Tirtana and Ariq Maulana Malki Ibrahim

A wearable AI solution that helps people with visual impairments safely participate in running and other physical activities by detecting lanes and obstacles.

 

Türkiye | Poseidon: Umut Devrim Deveci and Efe Cem Öztürk

A swimming safety system for visually impaired users that provides vibration alerts through a wristband when approaching boundaries or obstacles.

 

Great Britain | Curastep: Raye Woon and Sarah

Smart sneakers equipped with sensors to detect early signs of blister formation in people with diabetes and encourage safe physical activity.

 

United States | Storm Shield: Danielle Yang, Sara Carmona, Isha Harbaugh, Koel Harbaugh, Audrey Adams, Nikki Beshkar and Emily Wang

A protective sports headband designed to shield hearing aids from moisture, impact and environmental damage during physical activity.

 

The Five Accessibility and Environment Ambassador Teams

 

China | Furen Makers: Chenyue Wang, Ziyang Ma, Qiuyue Wang and Hewei Wen 

A brainwave-controlled wheelchair designed to support people with ALS and physical disabilities in mobility, rehabilitation and sports participation.

 

France | Liova: Simon Cénet and Evan Dessables

A reusable battery production kit that transforms discarded smartphone batteries into portable power banks to reduce electronic waste.

 

India | Paraspeak: Pranet Khetan

A cloud-based AI solution that converts unclear speech into clear pronunciation in real time for people with speech impairments.

 

Türkiye | Oilsorb: İrem Erden, Ece Deniz Sayar, Ela Aksoy and Meryem Melis Çınar

A sustainable oil spill response solution using reusable wool-based oil absorption pads and drone technology to address marine pollution.

 

United States | Aqua-Gel:Arya Anilkumar, Anna Huang, Aishwarya Reddy, Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya and Elaine Zuo 

An AI-powered smart bandage that monitors wound healing in real time and supports early infection detection through sensor data.

Samsung Electronics, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Smartphone Partner, hosted an event with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on July 31 in Paris to launch and promote a new digital community for people including the Olympic and Paralympic Games fans called “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People.”

The event was held at SPOT24, a multi-use exhibition space in Paris dedicated to Paris 2024, and was attended by IOC President Thomas Bach, MD of the IOC’s Television & Marketing Services Anne-Sophie Voumard, Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons, President and Head of Global Marketing Office at Samsung Electronics YH Lee, President of Samsung Electronics Europe Office Il-kyung Sung and Luc Abalo, a former gold-medal-winning French handball player and accomplished visual artist and participant in the Olympian Artists programme led by the Olympic Museum for Paris 2024.

A former Team Korea volleyball player, Yeon Koung Kim, Team GB Skateboarder Andy Macdonald, Australian Para-athlete Madison de Rozario and UK contents creator and The Rapping Science Teacher, Matt Green are going to take part in this project as global ambassadors and will actively share content for Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People via social media.

The “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People” project was developed by Samsung and the IOC to help Olympic and Paralympic fans around the world experience and engage with the Olympic Movement. The programme is especially focused on younger generations, with the new community designed around the goal of helping youth participants “solve, move and create in the spirit of the Olympic values.”

“Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People” introduces three new community-oriented initiatives. Solve Challenge integrates sport and Olympism with Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow programme, a youth-focused social contribution programme that empowers young people to design innovative solutions using sport and tech to address key social challenges aligned with the priorities of the IOC’s Olympism365. Move Challenge encourages fans of the Games around the globe to get up and walk more using Samsung’s smart mobile phone. Create Challenge lets participants get creative in an innovative digital artists’ community through Samsung’s smart device and S pen.

At the launch event, 10 teams that excelled in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow programme were announced as “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People” ambassadors. Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, the ambassadors will showcase the solutions they’ve created to address social challenges and work to engage Olympic fans around the world. They will also collaborate with the IOC Young Leader — as well as diverse initiatives fostered by the IOC — to address solutions including the promotion of sustainable development.

During the “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People” event, the ambassadors shared their Solve for Tomorrow projects designed to address real-world problems. A variety of innovative solutions were presented, ranging from help for people to overcome visual disabilities to new ways to promote worker safety.

“Samsung India is proud of the achievements of Shankar of Team Sputnik Brain, the winners of Solve for Tomorrow, 2022, and wishes him growth and success. We see tremendous potential in his solution to alleviate stress and improve healthcare substantially. We are also proud of the ‘Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People’ programme that provided the youth with an opportunity to participate in and experience the Olympics values.” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow provides an incredible opportunity for youth to effect positive change though innovative solutions,” said Shankar Srinivasan, from Team Sputnik Brain that represented India as a global ambassador for the ‘Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People’ campaign. Shankar, who developed a non-invasive wearable device that aims to reduce stress, addresses the global need for chemical-free stress relief solutions, wants to improve mental healthcare in the future. “I am overwhelmed and feel honoured to represent my country India at such a prestigious global platform where I presented my innovation and vision to help build a brighter future for our planet”, he added.

“I am impressed by the opportunities that Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has given to hundreds of thousands of young people to develop as future leaders,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “They will be our innovators of tomorrow, and I look forward to seeing them tackle various challenges facing our world. We’re pleased to join with our Worldwide Partner Samsung to continue to work together to identify and support talented young people at the intersection of sport and technology through the “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People” initiative.”

For more information about “Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People”, please visit https://olympics.com/togetherfortomorrow

The announcement was made in Seoul, Republic of Korea, at a signing ceremony with IOC President Thomas Bach and Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman at Samsung Electronics; IOC Marketing Commission Chair Tsunekazu Takeda; Dong Jin Koh, President and CEO of the IT&Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics; and Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President, Samsung Electronics.

Samsung will continue as the Worldwide Olympic Partner in the wireless communications equipment and computing equipment category, including the ability to promote the Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and 5G features of that equipment. As part of the agreement, the IOC and Samsung will further develop their strategic digital collaboration to engage young generations around the world in order to promote the power of sport and the values of Olympism.

IOC President Thomas Bach said: “I am delighted that we will be building on two decades of partnership with Samsung for another 10 years. Over this time, we have built a partnership combining Olympic excellence and Samsung’s industry-leading wireless communications technology. Together, we are able to connect with and inspire Olympic athletes and fans around the world, and we look forward to working with Samsung to build the digital future of the Olympic Games.”

Tsunekazu Takeda, IOC Marketing Commission Chair, Thomas Bach, IOC President, Jay Y. Lee, Vice Chairman at Samsung Electronics, and Dong Jin Koh, President and CEO of IT&Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, pose for a photo after a signing ceremony to extend their global partnership through to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (from right)

Dong Jin Koh, President and CEO of the IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics, said: “As a Worldwide Olympic Partner for the last 22 years, Samsung has been inspired by the spirit of hope, friendship and unity. Through our innovative wireless and computing equipment which are able to support AI, VR, AR and 5G technology, we hope to spread the excitement of the Games so that fans and athletes around the world can stay connected and share in the journey to achieve greatness at the highest level of sportsmanship.”

IOC Marketing Commission Chair Tsunekazu Takeda said: “Samsung is a global success story and a brand recognized around the world. Samsung understands and promotes the Olympic values through technology and marketing campaigns that help break down barriers and engage new audiences. From a commercial perspective, our extension with Samsung to 2028 builds on the long-term agreements reached recently with existing and new Partners, and demonstrates the long-term strength and appeal of our marketing programs.”

Samsung will continue its support beyond the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and will support every edition of the Olympic Games through to Los Angeles 2028, as well as all the Youth Olympic Games through to 2028. Samsung will also continue to support the IOC, the National Olympic Committees and their teams. Samsung’s first Games as a Worldwide TOP Partner were the Olympic Winter Games Nagano 1998. Samsung will also continue as a Worldwide Partner of the International Paralympic Committee, extending a relationship that began in 2006.

In collaboration with the IOC and the Organizing Committees, Samsung plans to continue its Athlete Phone Program. This program provides Limited Olympic Edition Galaxy phones to all participating Olympic and Paralympic athletes to enhance the athletes’ Games-time experience, help them stay in touch with their family and friends, and capture and share their journeys.