If you too want to apply, then check out these quick FAQs that will help you with your program application.

What is Samsung Solve for Tomorrow?

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a global CSR initiative present in more than 65 countries. In India, this innovation competition empowers young minds to develop solutions for real-world challenges. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 is now accepting applications from participants who are keen to solve for challenges in any of the four themes:

1. AI for safer, smarter & inclusive Bharat
2. Future of health, hygiene & wellbeing in India

3. Social Change through Sport & Tech: For Education & Better
4. Environmental Sustainability via Technology

Who can participate in the competition?

The competition is open to Indian residents only between 14-22 years of age as on the last day of the competition.

Individuals or teams of up to three people can apply with an original concept in terms of science and technology or a wholly new product with a social consequence. Without any innovation, new business models may not make it to consideration.

The team/individual should not have previously obtained funds/awards for the identical proposal from any agency or through other competitions for more than INR five lakhs.

Is there any participation fee?

No, the competition is completely free to enter.

Can I apply for more than one theme?

No, each individual or team is allowed to apply for only one theme. Submitting applications for multiple themes may result in disqualification. Please ensure you carefully select the theme that best aligns with your ides before applying.

What are the key stages of the competition?

The competition consists of multiple stages, and each stage is an elimination stage:

1. Application & Idea Submission – Submit your ideas in one of the four themes. Experts from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will review all the applications and 100 teams will be selected to qualify for the next stage. These 100 teams represent 25 teams from each of the theme.
2. Top 100 teams – Selected teams receive training from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi experts and need to submit their video pitches. A panel of experts from Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will evaluate the video pitches and 40 shortlisted teams will qualify to the next stage. These 40 teams represent 10 teams from each of the theme.
3. Innovation Bootcamp & National Pitch Event for Top 40 teams (semi-finalists) – The Top 40 teams will be invited to an Innovation Bootcamp and will visit Samsung offices in BLR & NCR followed by hands-on training & access to prototyping labs at IIT Delhi. All the Top 40 teams will pitch to a jury panel consisting of experts from Samsung at the National Pitch Event at IIT Delhi. Only 20 teams will be selected to qualify for the last stage. These 20 teams represent 5 teams from each of the theme.
4. Grand Finale for Top 20 teams (Finalists) – The Top 20 teams will get 1 on 1 mentoring from Industry experts, IIT Delhi and Samsung to help them prepare for the Grand Finale. At the Grand Finale, the Top 20 teams will get access to prototyping labs at IIT Delhi. The teams will pitch their ideas & prototypes one last time to a grand jury over a period of two days in Delhi NCR. The 4 Winning teams, each representing one theme, will be announced at the end of the Grand Finale in the Awards Ceremony.

Can one participant participate in two different teams?

No. Please note that any such applications with same participants in each team may lead to disqualification.

Can a school or college apply on the behalf of students?

No, students must apply individually or as a team with their own registered accounts. In case of minors, parental consent is mandatory to participate in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025.

Can overseas students participate in the competition?

This competition is open to Indian nationals only.

How do I choose the right theme for my idea?

1. AI for safer, smarter & inclusive Bharat – AI-driven solutions improving safety, accessibility and inclusion in India.
2. Future of health, hygiene & wellbeing in India – Ideas focused on improving healthcare, nutrition and mental well-being.
3. Social Change through Sport & Tech: For Education & Better Futures – to improve education & the way of making a living through Sports and Tech.

4. Environmental Sustainability via Technology – Sustainable management approaches to minimize waste and pollution while maximizing reuse, recycling and material regeneration.

Does my idea have to be a working prototype?

No, you can submit a concept or an early-stage idea. All the shortlisted teams will be guided to develop prototypes.

What are the different stages the project can be at?

1. Idea/Concept – The initial stage where participants identify a problem and propose innovative solutions under the four themes.
2. Early Development – The phase where the idea is researched, refined, and a basic plan or model is created.
3. Advanced Stage – The solution takes shape with detailed designs, feasibility studies and initial testing.
4. Prototype Ready – A functional prototype is developed, demonstrating the solution’s practicality and effectiveness.

Will my idea be made public?

If your proposal gets selected for further consideration, the issue description and other components will be published on our website, utilized as publicity materials by media partners, and presented at various phases of the program, including the final pitch event. Technical details will be confidential while IP filing is in progress.

How are ideas evaluated, and by whom?

In the first round, applications will be screened basis their relevance to a social problem, technical feasibility, market potential, and team competence by subject matter experts from the “Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.” Your idea will fall under examination using the following criteria:

1. Innovation and creativity: Uniqueness and originality of the idea
2. Impact and Feasibility: Potential to solve real-world challenges.
3. Scalability: Ability to expand and benefit a larger audience.
4. Technical and Execution capability: Clarity in implementation and development.

Jury comprising of industry veterans from Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, will screen your ideas in the second, third and fourth rounds.

How will I know if I am successful?

Samsung will communicate the results to participants through the following channels:

• Official Website: Shortlisted individuals/teams will be announced on the Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow website for each stage.
• Email Notification: Successful participants will receive direct communications regarding the selection and next steps to the team leads email id.
• Social Media Announcement: Key Competition milestones and winners will be highlighted on the Samsung’s official social media channels.

Participants are advised to regularly check their emails and the official website for updates.

If I am shortlisted, are there specific dates I need to be available?

As a part of the competition, shortlisted participants will receive online training covering design thinking, advanced digital masterclasses, and business skills to help them refine their ideas.

If you progress to Stage 2, you will be required to attend online training sessions on design thinking methodology, digital technologies and mentorship, starting in July 2025.

For those advancing to Stage 3(Top 40 teams), attendance will be mandatory for Samsung site visits and a residential bootcamp at IIT Delhi in September 2025.

Finalists (Top 20 teams) moving to Grand Finale will need to be available for additional training sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship, prototyping, intellectual property rights (IPR), and other relevant topics, beginning September 2025.

Additionally, all finalists must be available to attend the awards ceremony in October 2025.

Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi will provide the exact dates at a later stage.

What activities will be there during the Innovation Bootcamp and National Pitch event?

The 11-day bootcamp and national pitch event will provide the Top 40 teams with an opportunity to explore Samsung offices and receive specialized training.

• Day 0: Top 40 teams arrive at Bangalore.
• Day 1: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Research Institute Bangalore
• Day 2: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Research Institute Delhi and Noida
• Day 3: Top 40 teams visit Samsung Soutwest Asia Office, Gurugram
• Day 4 to Day 6: Top 40 teams will undergo three days of on-site training at IIT Delhi focused on refining the ideas and identifying effective problem-solving approaches.
• Day 7: Rest day
• Day 8 and Day 9: Top 40 teams get two days of lab access to further develop and enhance their prototypes.
• Day 10 and Day 11: Top 40 teams pitch their ideas to the Jury members from Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.
• Day 12: Participants return to their respective home locations.

Who will bear the travel and accommodation cost for the boot camp?

Samsung will take care of your accommodation and travel requirements (Selected teams will receive all the details and guidelines). For participants below 18, Samsung will provide accommodation & travel for a parent/guardian.

What to expect at Grand Finale?

Prototyping Day at IIT Delhi (1 day):

• Finalists will have a dedicated day to refine and enhance their prototypes before the finale at IIT-Delhi.
• Access to the prototyping labs will be provided to all the Top 20 teams.

Grand Finale in Delhi-NCR (2 days):

• Final presentations and pitches to a panel of industry leaders and experts.
• Evaluation based on innovation, feasibility, and impact.
• Networking opportunities with Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi, investors and other dignitaries.
• Investor Meet-up on day 1 of Grand finale.
• Announcement of winners and award ceremony on day 2 of the Grand Finale.

Will Samsung or Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi own my idea?

No, you will be the sole owner of the concept and the intellectual property. The role of Samsung and Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi will be to assist you only in developing it.

Will the competition provide incubation support for the selected teams?

Yes, the 4 winning teams will be provided incubation at IIT Delhi and funding of INR 1 Crore to further develop and scale their ideas. This includes mentorship from industry experts, guidance on business strategies, and access to resources that can assist in turning innovative concepts into viable solutions.

Participants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals in fields such as technology, business strategy, design thinking and entrepreneurship. The support will help refine their solutions and prepare them for real-world implementation.

Are there any grants or financial awards for winners?

Yes, the competition offers financial support at different stages to help teams enhance their projects:

Funding for Shortlisted Teams:

• Top 40 Teams: Each team will receive INR 20,000 to further develop their project.
• Top 20 Teams: Each team will receive INR 100,000 enhance their prototype and project.

Grant Prize for Winners:

• Winning 4 teams: A total grant of INR 1 Crore will be awarded across the winners.
• The winning teams will also receive incubation support at FITT, IIT Delhi to refine their project and make it market-ready.

Special awards

In addition to the main grants, four special awards will be given:

• Social Media Champion Award – INR 50,000
  Awarded to one team from the Top 20 for the highest number of posts and engagement across social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, LinekdIn, and Instagram)
• Goodwill Award / Audience Choice ward – INR 100,000 each

Two teams from the top 20 will receive INR 100,000 each, based on maximum audience votes during the Grand Finale.

• Young Innovators Award / Women in Innovation Award – INR 100,000 each

The jury for their outstanding innovation and contribution will select two teams from the Top 20. Each team will receive INR 100,000.

Where can I read the competition Terms & Conditions?

You can read the full terms and conditions and privacy notice for Solve for Tomorrow 2025 here.

My question is not answered here

Contact us at solvefortomorrow@samsung.com if you have any further queries or require assistance.

The second edition of Samsung’s flagship CSR program, Solve For Tomorrow (SFT) 2023, a nationwide education and innovation competition for GenZ, is inviting ambitious innovators aged 16-22 to solve real-world issues and win a total of INR 1.5 crore*.

If you too want to apply for SFT Season 2 yet, then check out these quick FAQs that will help you with your program application.

What are the eligibility criteria? Who can apply?

• Youth aged 16-22 years, affiliation with an educational institution not necessary
• Parental consent is essential for participants between 16-18 years
• Individuals or teams of up to three can apply
• Concepts should be original regarding science and technology or an entirely new product with social or economic significance
• New business models must have innovation to be considered
• Participants should not have obtained awards/funding of more than five lakhs for an identical proposal

Can I apply for more than one theme or participate in two different teams?

No, only one proposal can be submitted per team. Participants can pitch concepts that tackle issues in any domain of their familiarity.

Individuals cannot participate in two different teams.

Which languages can be used in the PowerPoint proposal?

English and Hindi.

Can overseas students participate?

No, only Indian nationals can apply.

Will my idea be made public?

The issue description and other components of the proposals selected for further rounds will be published on our website, utilized for publicity, and presented at various phases of the competition.

However, technical details will remain confidential while IP filing is in progress.

How are ideas evaluated, and by whom?

In the first round, applications will be screened by subject matter experts from the Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.

The evaluation criteria are:

– Significance of the problem statement & its social impact

– Novelty and viability of the solution

– Qualifications of the team

– Plan for commercialization

The second and third rounds of application screening will be done by a jury comprising industry veterans from Samsung.

What is the program structure?

SFT is structured in 3 phases:

Phase 1: Subject matter experts will screen applications from all over India to select the Top 30 for the next round.

Phase 2: Top 30 teams will receive training from industry leaders and academicians during a five-day boot camp at IIT Delhi. Further, teams will pitch their ideas to a jury that will finalize the Top 10.

Phase 3: Top 10 teams will get advanced training as an orientation towards business activities and mentoring for proof-of-concept development, business plan, and essential soft skills. The final pitch day event will be conducted to select the Top 3 winning teams before a jury panel.

What activities will take place in the boot camp? What about the cost of travel and accommodation?

A five-day boot camp will be organized at the IIT Delhi campus for the Top 30 to identify the direction of their ideas, along with extensive training in design thinking and prototyping.

Samsung will help with your accommodation & travel expenses. Details and guidelines about the same will be shared with the participants. Samsung will provide accommodation for parent/guardian of those under 18.

Will Samsung or FITT own my idea?

No, the participants will be the sole owner of the concept and the intellectual property. Samsung and FITT will only assist you in developing it.

To know more, read the full terms and conditions here

1. What is the eligibility criteria for Solve for Tomorrow?

Candidates who:

• Are aged between 16 to 22 yrs on the last day of the competition can apply.
• For participants between 16-18 years, parental consent required.
• Individuals or teams of up to three people can apply for the challenge.
• The concept should be original in terms of science and technology, or it should be a wholly new product with a social or economic consequence. Without any innovation, new business models may not be considered.
• The team/individual should not have previously obtained funds/awards for the identical proposal from any agency or through other competitions for more than 5 lakhs.
• Can I apply for more than one theme?

No, each team can only submit one proposal to the Solve for Tomorrow challenge. Teams are free to pitch their unique concept to tackle problems for the future in any one domain they are most familiar with.

2. Can one participant participate in two different teams?

No

3. What language should be used in the PowerPoint proposal?

Only the English language is accepted.

4. Can overseas students participate in the competition?

This competition is open for Indian citizens only.

5. Will my idea be made public?

If your proposal is selected for further consideration, the issue description and other components of your proposal may be published on our website, utilized as publicity materials by media partner, and presented at various phases of the program, including the final pitch event. Technical details would be kept confidential in circumstances when IP filing is in progress.

6. How are ideas evaluated and by whom?

In the first round, applications will be examined for its relevance to a social problem, technical feasibility, market potential, and team competence, by subject matter experts from the “Foundation of Innovation & Technology Transfer (FITT) – IIT Delhi.”

Your idea will be thoroughly examined using the following criteria:

• The significance of the problem statement & its impact on society
• The proposed solution’s novelty and viability
• Qualifications of the group or individual
• Plan for commercialization

In the second and third round, your ideas will be judged by a jury composed of industry veterans from Samsung.

7. How will I know if I am successful?

Following the initial entries in Phase 1, 50 shortlisted teams will be announced in July 2022. FITT, IIT Delhi will directly communicate the results to the successful entrants by email. After Round Two submissions by the top 50 teams, top 10 teams that move to the final round will be announced in August 2022.

8. If I am shortlisted, are there specific dates I need to be available at?

As part of the competition participants will be offered online training on design thinking, advanced digital masterclasses and business skills to equip them with the tools and techniques to develop a winning idea.

If you advance to Round Two (Top 50 teams), you will need to be available to attend online training sessions exploring design thinking methodology and other digital technologies as well as mentoring sessions starting July 2022.

If you make it through to the final round (Top 10 teams), you will need to be available for further training on innovation, entrepreneurship, prototyping, IPR and other related topics starting September 2022.

Finalists will also need to be able to attend the awards ceremony in November 2022.

Samsung & FITT will confirm exact dates at a later stage.

9. What is the program structure?

The program is divided in 4 phases:

Phase 1: In phase 1, applications will be received on the website from all over India. These applications will be reviewed by experts, who will then select top 50 teams for the next round. The website portal allows teams to check the status of their applications.

Phase 2: In the second phase, teams are mentored by industry and academic professionals during a three-day boot camp held at IIT Delhi. Teams are then requested to submit videos with regards to their idea. These videos will be evaluated by Samsung jury who will then select top 10 finalists.

Phase 3: The 10 finalist teams will be provided with advanced training as an orientation towards business activities. The journey and origin of their idea may be captured. Mentoring for proof-of-concept development, business plan and soft skills required for entrepreneurs will be provided. Teams are then requested to finally pitch their idea in front of a jury panel. 3 winning teams will be announced in this stage.

Phase 4: In this final phase, teams are awarded a grant to develop a prototype for customer validation. Incubation support will be offered by FITT, IIT Delhi for the prototyping phase.

10. What activities will be done in the offline bootcamp?

A bootcamp will be organized at IIT Delhi campus for three days. Teams will be trained to clearly identify their paths ahead and ensure a problem – solution fit. Teams will also be provided with extensive training on design thinking and prototyping.

11. Who will bear the travel and accommodation cost for the bootcamp?

FITT, IIT Delhi will take care of your accommodation and travel expenses (guidelines will be mailed to teams after selection). For participants under the age of 18, FITT, IIT Delhi will provide accommodation for their parents. Parents are expected to manage their travel on their own.

12. Will Samsung or FITT own my idea?

No, you will be the owner of the concept and the intellectual property. The role of Samsung and FITT will be to assist you in developing your concept. If you are chosen, FITT will offer you the opportunity to incubate in the FITT, IIT Delhi incubation center.

13. My question is not answered here

Please contact the FITT-IIT Delhi team at sft@fitt-iitd.co.in if you have any further queries or require assistance.