Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced a major expansion of its flagship CSR programme, Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), reaffirming its commitment to empowering India’s youth with future-ready skills while supporting the Government’s vision of Digital India and Skill India.

The skilling programme, will expand to 10 states this year, up from four in 2024. It will upskill 20,000 students in future-tech skills such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Coding & Programming during 2025, a six-fold increase over last year’s 3,500 students. Alongside technical training, the students will also receive instruction in soft skills to enhance workplace readiness, while eligible candidates will be supported with placement assistance in relevant industries.

“Samsung is proud to be a long-standing partner in India’s growth journey. Samsung Innovation Campus, which is aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India and Digital India initiatives, reflects our shared vision of harnessing technology to unlock opportunities for the youth. Through Samsung Innovation Campus, we are equipping India’s youth with future-ready skills, helping them prepare for the digital economy and drive the country’s progress. We remain committed to expanding access to skilling and employment opportunities, especially for students from underserved communities, and to support the Government’s vision of a digitally-empowered India,” said JB Park, President and CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.

Strategic Focus on Scale and Inclusion

Samsung has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) to train 10,000 students in emerging technologies across Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and West Bengal. A second MoU with the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) will extend the programme to another 10,000 students in Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Maharashtra.

A key emphasis this year will be on Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, with 5,000 students from each state set to receive training in future technologies. The initiative is designed to democratize access to future-tech skills by reaching both urban and semi-urban areas, ensuring that underserved communities are not left behind in India’s digital transformation.

Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC), both National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)-approved entities, will implement the programme through their networks of accredited training partners and centres. Since its launch in India in 2022, Samsung Innovation Campus has trained 6,500 students in future technologies.

Samsung Innovation Campus: A Key Pillar of CSR in India

Samsung Innovation Campus is part of Samsung’s broader CSR strategy, alongside programmes such as Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, which encourages youth innovation and problem-solving for social good. Together, these initiatives are designed to improve access to education, foster creativity, and prepare India’s next generation to thrive in a technology-driven future.

Mr Ken Kang, President and CEO, Samsung SWA and Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer (Officiating CEO), NSDC exchanging the MOU signed between Samsung and NSDC for the Samsung DOST CSR program

Samsung India today announced the launch of ‘Samsung DOST’ (Digital & Offline Skills Training), a CSR initiative that aims to make 50,000 youth job-ready for the electronics retail sector over the next few years. Samsung, India’s largest smartphone and consumer electronics brand, has partnered with India’s premier skill development organization, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), to execute the program through its nationwide skills training centres.

Samsung DOST will be the biggest skills training program in the electronics sector.

Samsung has been India’s committed partner for the last 25 years, leading the consumer electronics and smartphones space with strategic investments in manufacturing, R&D, retail and community development. Samsung has set up the world’s largest mobile factory in Noida and is a key player in the government’s large-scale electronics manufacturing push, which is expected to create significant number of job opportunities for youth in manufacturing as well as the retail sector.

(From L-R) Mr. Partha Ghosh, Head, Corporate Citizenship, Samsung India; Peter Rhee, Deputy MD, Samsung SWA; Mr. Ken Kang, President and CEO, Samsung SWA; Mr. Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer (Officiating CEO), NSDC; Mr. Prakash Sharma, Chief Financial Officer, NSDC at the MoU signing event

Considering the potential of employment generation post skill training, Samsung has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with NSDC for the ‘Samsung DOST’ program under which youth will receive 200 hours of blended classroom and online training, followed by five months of on-the-job training (OJT) at Samsung retail stores, along with a monthly stipend at par with industry standards. This will help the youth acquire new competencies and skills needed for jobs in India’s fast growing electronics retail environment.

Mr. Ken Kang, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia said: “Samsung has been India’s committed partner over the last 25 years, and has contributed to people and communities across India through its citizenship programs. The Samsung DOST program is aligned to the Government of India’s Skill India initiative and is an embodiment of our vision of #PoweringDigitalIndia that seeks to empower the next generation of young India. With this new program, we aim to close the skills and employability gap among youth in the country, helping them find jobs in the fast growing electronics retail sector.”

The participants will be trained at various training centres accredited and approved by NSDC. The training will be in accordance to the National Skill Qualification Framework, which is aligned to industry needs, and will include skillsets such as customer engagement, managing sales counter, handling customer queries, product demonstration & selling skills and several other soft skills, including post-Covid etiquettes, preparing them for a career in electronics retail. During the OJT, participants will be made familiar with the functioning of electronics retail stores through live demonstrations, role play techniques and hands-on training.

The participants for the program will be youth who have completed school education and will be mobilized through NSDC’s approved training partners at 120 centres across India. The assessments and certification of the participants will be done by the Telecom Sector Skill Council (TSSC) after the participants complete their OJT.

With ‘Samsung DOST’, Samsung is expanding its skilling programs in India, as part of its CSR initiatives.

Samsung has been running the Samsung Technical School program since 2013 in partnership with the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Departments of Technical Education in different states. Under this program, youth are provided vocational skills to repair the latest smartphones, televisions, refrigerators, washing machines and other electronics.