(L-R) (Left-to-Right) Junho Jeong, External Communications & CSR, Samsung Southwest Asia, Shubham Mukherjee, Head Corporate Communication and Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Southwest Asia, Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi, JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Tarun Chaturvedi, COO, FITT, IIT Delhi

Samsung has announced the launch of the fifth edition of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, its flagship innovation and education programme designed to empower India’s next generation of young innovators to build technology-driven solutions for real-world challenges.

As Samsung marks 30 years in India, the company is significantly expanding the scale and ambition of the programme, reinforcing its long-term commitment to India’s innovation ecosystem and the vision of #DigitalIndia.

In line with this ambition, the 2026 edition will provide incubation grants worth INR 2 crore to the top four winning teams, enabling them to further develop and scale their ideas through incubation support at IIT Delhi. In addition, the top 20 teams will receive INR 20 lakh, while the top 40 teams will be awarded INR 8 lakh along with Samsung devices and mentorship support.

“We are proud to have been a trusted partner in the country’s digital and innovation journey over the last 30 years, contributing to a growing culture of innovation led by its youth. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has evolved into a strong platform for nurturing young innovators and enabling a pipeline of emerging startups addressing real-world challenges. With the 2026 edition, we are taking innovation deeper into Bharat—more than doubling our outreach to schools and expanding access for young changemakers. In its fifth year, the programme reflects our sustained commitment to India’s innovation journey, while strengthening the ecosystem through design thinking, skilling, industry exposure, and start-up support, in alignment with the vision of #DigitalIndia,” said JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.

Empowering the Next Generation of Innovators

This year’s programme invites students aged 14–22 to submit ideas across four themes — AI Living for India, Health & Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport & Tech — reflecting the growing role of technology in building a smarter, more inclusive, and future-ready India.

The six-month programme will provide thousands of participants access to hands-on prototyping support, investor connects, expert mentorship, immersive workshops, and extensive training designed to help transform ideas into scalable solutions.

Industry, Academia, and Government Come Together

“Bharat is being shaped by a new generation of young innovators who are solving for the world as well. Through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, we see early-stage ideas being nurtured into viable solutions with the potential to scale. Such initiatives strengthen the pipeline of future entrepreneurs and innovators,” said Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

“We believe that young students can find innovative solutions to local, regional and global problems. Our continuing collaboration with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow enables students to access deep-tech mentorship, interdisciplinary research and prototyping support. This initiative reflects how academia and industry together can accelerate innovation that addresses both national priorities and global challenges,” said Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.

“India’s journey towards a knowledge-driven and innovation-led economy depends on how effectively we nurture scientific temper and problem-solving skills among our youth. Platforms like Samsung Solve for Tomorrow play an important role in encouraging young people to apply science and technology to solve real-world challenges aligned with national priorities,” said Dr. Sapna Poti, Director, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.

Programme Journey: From Ideas to Impact

Applications for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 will remain open from May 7 to July 3, 2026. During this phase, Samsung will conduct 100 design-thinking workshops across schools and colleges nationwide to equip participants with foundational problem-solving and ideation skills.

Following the application phase, the top 100 teams 25 from each theme will be shortlisted for expert-led online training and mentorship. After a video pitch round, 40 teams will advance to the next stage, with 10 teams selected from each theme.

Exposure to World-Class Innovation Ecosystems

Semi-finalists will participate in intensive mentoring sessions with Samsung leaders and industry experts, alongside curated visits to Samsung’s R&D centres in Bengaluru, Noida, and Delhi and Head Office offering first-hand exposure to world-class innovation ecosystems.

Participants will also undergo an immersive prototyping programme and residential bootcamp designed to refine ideas and prepare teams for the final stage of the competition.

The top 20 teams — five from each theme — will advance to the grand finale and participate in investor meets, pitch presentations, and mentoring sessions with Samsung experts.

Awards, Grants, and Incubation Support

• Top 100 teams: Certificates of achievement
• Top 40 teams: INR 8 lakh and Samsung laptops for every member
• Top 20 teams: INR 20 lakh and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphones for every member
• Special Awards: Digital Impact Award and Community Choice Award with a combined prize pool of INR 2.5 lakh
• Top 4 winning teams: Incubation grants worth INR 2 crore at IIT Delhi

A Global Platform for Young Changemakers

First launched in the US in 2010, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is now operational in 68 countries and has engaged more than 3 million young people.

A total of 750 students were certified under the programme at the two centres in Visakhapatnam this year – 500 from Vignan College and 250 from DIET College – marking another milestone in Samsung’s mission to prepare India’s youth for a technology-driven future.

Celebrating Samsung Innovation Campus graduates in Andhra Pradesh

The felicitation ceremony at Vignan’s Institute of Information Technology, Visakhapatnam, was hosted on 12th December 2025 at Vignan College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The event was graced by Chief Guests Dr. B. Ravi Kiran, MBBS & ACP – Cyber Crime CID, and Dr. Sudhakar Jyothula, Principal, Vignan College, along with Mr. Saroj Apato, Vice President – Strategic Partnerships, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI).​​

At Vignan College, 500 beneficiaries who had completed the course during the year were felicitated, including 250 students trained in Artificial Intelligence and 250 students trained in Coding & Programming. Students received their certificates in the presence of faculty members, dignitaries, and SIC partners, celebrating their successful completion of rigorous, industry-relevant training designed to enhance their employability in emerging technology domains.​​

On the same day, another felicitation ceremony was held at DIET College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The event was honoured by the presence of Chief Guests Sri Dadi Ratnakar Garu, Chairman, DIET College and Dr. Rugada Vaikunta Rao, Principal, DIET College, together with Mr. Saroj Apato, Vice President – Strategic Partnerships, ESSCI.​​

At DIET College, 250 SIC beneficiaries were awarded certificates for successfully completing specialised training in Artificial Intelligence. The dignitaries congratulated the students for their achievement and emphasised the importance of advanced digital skills in driving local employment, innovation, and entrepreneurship opportunities across Andhra Pradesh.​​

Scaling future-tech skills across India

Samsung Innovation Campus strengthens India’s digital skilling ecosystem by training youth in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, and Coding & Programming. Aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India and Digital India missions, the programme is being rapidly expanded to train 20,000 students across 10 states in 2025, nearly six times more than the previous year’s 3,500 students. The initiative also maintains a strong focus on inclusion, with women constituting 42% of participants nationally, reflecting Samsung’s commitment to equitable access to high-quality tech education. ​

Samsung is working with accredited training partners under the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI) and the Telecom Sector Skills Council of India (TSSC) to deliver high-quality technical training, soft-skills development and placement readiness. The programme particularly prioritises underserved, semi-urban and aspirational districts, ensuring that students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds can participate in India’s digital transformation.​

Strengthening India’s workforce through technology

Through initiatives such as Samsung Innovation Campus, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and DOST (Digital and Offline Skills Training), Samsung continues to create pathways for employment, innovation and entrepreneurship for young Indians. These programmes reinforce the company’s long-term commitment to building a digitally skilled, innovation-ready and future-focused talent base that will power an Aatmanirbhar Bharat.​

(Left-to-Right) Junho Jeong, External Communications & CSR, Samsung Southwest Asia, Rajiv Aggarwal, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs and ESG, Samsung Southwest Asia, Shri Amardeep Singh Bhatia, Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),Government of India, Shubham Mukherjee, Head Corporate Communication and Corporate Citizenship, Samsung Southwest Asia, Shri Sumeet K. Jarangal, Director, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India.

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Startup India, a flagship initiative of the Government of India, to empower young innovators from remote corners of India and strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

The MoU was signed in New Delhi and brings together Samsung’s flagship nationwide innovation contest, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, and Startup India’s robust national ecosystem of incubation, mentorship, and policy support. The collaboration aims to identify and nurture high-potential talent, especially from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, by providing access to infrastructure, expert guidance, market linkages, and funding opportunities.

“At Samsung, we believe innovation thrives when young minds are empowered with the right platforms and support systems. Our partnership with Startup India is a significant step in that direction. By bringing together Samsung Solve for Tomorrow’s vision and Startup India’s expansive ecosystem and network, we aim to nurture the next generation of the change makers from the remote corners of India to become the problem solvers of tomorrow. This collaboration is aligned with Skill India and Digital India initiatives and aims to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the country,” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia.

“Innovation is the key to growth, unlocking new possibilities, driving progress, and enabling solutions that shape a better future. And, empowering young innovators is central to India’s growth story. Through this collaboration between Startup India and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, we are strengthening our commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-led ecosystem. This partnership will not only encourage youth from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to ideate and innovate, but also aligns closely with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat. We are happy to see Samsung stepping forward to nurture the entrepreneurial spirit across the country,” said Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a flagship innovation and education initiative designed to foster problem-solving, creativity, and social impact among India’s youth. Through this programme, young students are encouraged to identify real-world issues in their communities and work toward building scalable solutions using design thinking, technology and entrepreneurial skills. The initiative provides mentorship, workshops, prototype development support, and opportunities to pitch ideas to experts and investors.

The new partnership will see Startup India leveraging its extensive network of incubators and accelerators, while Samsung drives on-ground engagement with students and young innovators through hands-on learning and innovation challenges. This integrated approach, designed to scale grassroots innovation, will place innovation at the core of India’s education and entrepreneurship ecosystems.

This model public-private partnership between Samsung India and Startup India reinforces the shared commitment to the Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India missions—putting young, local innovators at the centre of India’s technology and manufacturing-led future.

First launched in the US in 2010, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is currently operational in 68 countries and has seen over 3 million young people participate worldwide. The 2025 edition offers an incubation programme for the Top 4 winning teams that will receive a grant of INR 1 crore. Additionally, the Top 20 teams will be awarded INR 20 lakh, while the Top 40 teams will receive INR 8 lakh.

This year, participants were encouraged to design solutions across four key themes: AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat; Future of Health, Hygiene, and Well-being in India; Social change through Sports and Tech for Education and Better Futures; and Environmental Sustainability via Technology. The shortlists have gone hyperlocal, with the programme discovering young innovators from some of India’s far-flung districts—including Samastipur in Bihar, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, Baramulla in Jammu & Kashmir, and Cachar in Assam. The reach and resonance of the programme is evident not just in the geographies covered, but also in the ingenuity of the ideas submitted across all four themes.