We have said farewell to 2025 and as we look ahead and welcome a new year, I am immensely proud of what our teams across Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) have achieved together so far. To Samsung, the SEAO region is more than a collection of markets; it is a strategic hub of innovation, defined by dynamic growth, cultural diversity, and rapid digital adoption. While commercial targets continued to be important last year, we were also focused on anchoring Samsung as a genuine, long-term partner in SEAO’s development.

To strengthen the fundamentals that we established in 2025, I would like to share three core strategic pillars that will continue to anchor our growth path in 2026: delivering breakthrough innovations, empowering the next generation, and driving transformation for our customers; all underpinned by our commitment to become a truly AI-driven company.

Delivering Breakthrough Innovation Through an AI-Driven Future

At Samsung, we believe AI has fundamentally changed how we operate, innovate, and serve our customers. We have embraced a bold vision to be an AI-driven company and are already weaving AI meaningfully into our operations and innovations.

We first introduced Galaxy AI to the world back in 2024 and we reinforced our AI leadership in 2025 as we delivered an even broader vision of living with AI. In addition to democratization, we are driving a new era of multi-modal intelligence. This means ensuring that our hardware and software evolve together, creating devices that do not just process commands, but function as intuitive companions.

At CES 2026, we announced our efforts to unify intelligence across devices to deliver meaningful experiences as your trusted companion to AI living, creating a positive impact on how you work, live and play. I am excited for you to see how our commitment to AI innovations will shape our devices, solutions and services in 2026.

Some of our key announcements at CES 2026 include:

• A more intuitive and personal AI integrated into our home appliances and displays that understands you, adapts to your routines, and supports your daily life
• Partnerships with leading AI players and industry partners to introduce next level AI capabilities, including on-device and cloud hybrid AI, agentic AI, and more.
• A seamless and secure AI experience featuring a single design language and intuitive layer of contextual intelligence whether on One UI, Bixby or other services.

Empowering the Next Generation

What also continues to excite me is that the next generation in SEAO will not just be users of technology; they will be creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs who shape how these applications of AI serve their communities.

I believe that technology should serve as a bridge that enables everyone, regardless of background, to connect, create, and thrive. To fully unlock this potential, we have directed our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts towards cultivating and investing in our youth, nurturing the next generation of talent.

Our flagship Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) program empowers young people to drive meaningful change through technology and innovation. In 2025, participation grew by 40% from 2024, with a total of more than 16,900 youth across the region developing solutions to address challenges in their communities. This growth highlights young people’s readiness to apply technology in practical and meaningful ways when given the tools and opportunities.

Last year, the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) actively bridged the regional skills gap by providing advanced information and communications technology (ICT), coding, and AI education across multiple SEAO markets. This approach mirrors our internal capability-building methodology: just as we train our employees through a structured GenAI curriculum, SIC provides youth with a similar roadmap for progression, enabling them to build foundational AI capabilities and progress to working with more complex applications.

These initiatives are more than CSR programs, but strategic investments we are making to contribute and build up the talent pipeline for our region’s AI-driven digital economy.

2026 is set to be a year where we build on this strong momentum with our CSR programs, as we aim to do even more with governments, corporations, schools, NGOs and community partners.

Driving Ecosystem Transformation

Finally, the foundation of a hyper-connected world fueled by AI agents must be trust. At Samsung, security and privacy are at the heart of our strategy. This principle is increasingly critical as we enter an era of Agentic AI, where intelligent systems do not just respond to commands but anticipate needs and act autonomously on users’ behalf. The power of our “One Samsung” ecosystem ensures that intelligence extends seamlessly from mobile to the entire connected home via SmartThings, protected by Samsung Knox.

We also uphold this standard of trust at the enterprise level. Last year, Samsung Business Experience Studios (BES) were launched in markets including Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. These spaces are designed to help organizations envision how they can adopt innovative Samsung solutions to meet their specific industry challenges. With additional studios set to roll out across Southeast Asia and Oceania, we look forward to more opportunities for collaboration as we partner with enterprises to implement smart and secure solutions for their businesses.

Shaping Our Future Together

My first year leading SEAO has been characterized by our efforts to innovate, empower youth, and transform ecosystems across industries, all anchored in our evolution as an AI leader.

While we are encouraged by what we have achieved so far, our work here is far from over. I invite all our partners, consumers, and regional leaders to continue this journey with us in 2026 and beyond. As we pursue our ambition to establish Samsung as the undisputed leader in AI, we will strive to ensure that AI serves everyone throughout everyday life.

Together, let us shape a future where technology does not just connect devices, but connects people, communities, and possibilities across our vibrant region.

Manila, Philippines – Samsung Philippines has revealed the winners of its third Solve for Tomorrow competition in the country, as Samsung celebrates 15 years of the Solve for Tomorrow competition globally.

This year’s Grand Prize winner hailed from Cavite Science Integrated School with members Elisha Lhane Althea Ramos, Harly P. Bautista, Jhacis Miguel Causapin, Eileen Cassandra S. Datu, and their adviser, Jeremae V. Varias. Their entry, “Mangrove Health Monitor (MaHeMo): A Solar-Powered, Water-Quality Sensing Buoy for Monitoring Mangrove Ecosystem Health,”  is a solar-powered buoy system that tracks mangrove water quality using sensors for salinity, turbidity, pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen. The purpose of this project was to provide continuous monitoring of mangrove ecosystems and mark key areas with floating buoys.

They will receive Php 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the students and their teacher, Php 100,000 in cash for the team members, and Php 30,000 in cash for their teacher adviser.

The second prize winners were also from Cavite Science Integrated School, with members Adam Uriel Berganos, Jared Y. Cabillan, Niel Jullian M. Caringal, Cedrick A. Del Mundo, and their adviser, Mharlotte O. Ilagan. Their project, “EGGNovation,” an Egg Quality Control Segregator, integrates a conveyor system with an image processing program to scan and segregate eggs based on yolk freshness automatically. Their goal was to minimize labor, reduce errors, and increase productivity in egg sorting.

They will take home Php 300,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, Php 70,000 in cash for the team members, and Php 25,000 in cash for the teacher adviser.

The third prize winners were from Tuguegarao City Science High School, with members Zeke Rinzen Maggay, Princess F. Cue, Rhiane Leigh E. Espanto, Julius James A. Palattao, together with their teacher adviser Raissa Jennifer C. Pulido. Their project, named “BANTALAY,” is a solar-powered UV light trap with humidity-based intensity adjustment, which serves as a sustainable, low-cost pest control solution. The project aimed to reduce chemical dependency, strengthen agricultural resilience, and promote sustainable farming practices.

They will receive Php 200,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, Php 50,000 in cash for the team, and Php 15,000 in cash for the teacher adviser.

The remaining teams in the top 10 will receive Php 15,000 in cash for their team and Php 5,000 for their teacher. The teams are “FloodSafe Routes AI: An AI Smart Route and Hazard Mapping System for Schools” from Philippine Science High School – Caraga Region Campus, “SINAG: Eco-Sustainable Carbon Dots from Biomass for Bio-Based Solar Light Harvesting” from Bansud NHS – Regional Science High School, “The S.W.E.A.T Project” from Philippine Science High School Main Campus, “S.A.G.I.P.: Solar-powered Autonomous Geolocation and Information Protocol for Disaster Mitigation” from Cavite Science Integrated School, “ShellTer: Earthquake-Resistant Precast Using Walnut and Pistachio Shell Waste for Sustainable Construction” from Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus, “Plasfix: SARIMAX Forecasting of Rabbitfish (Siganus) Catch Volume in Pangasinan by Evaluating Plastic-Induced Seagrass Decline” from Pasay City Science High School, and “VITALBAND: A Galaxy AI-Integrated Health and Disaster Monitoring Wristband for Filipinos” from Marikina Science High School.

Together for Tomorrow: Enabling People

Solve for Tomorrow started as a simple essay competition in 2010, but over the years it has evolved into a dynamic platform where students collaborate to develop meaningful, future-shaping projects. Aligned with Samsung’s mission to make technology accessible while empowering the next generation of “next-gen heroes,” the program has spent the last 15 years equipping students with real-world experience and design thinking skills—helping them create practical, technology-driven solutions to real challenges.

This year’s competition focuses on empowering communities through technology, featuring themes on Environmental Sustainability through Technology, Social Change through Tech and Sport, and Solving Community Problems with Artificial Intelligence (AI). With the support of the Department of Education, Solve for Tomorrow 2025 received over 300 entries from Grades 8–10 students in public science high schools—narrowed down to 10 finalists and, ultimately, 3 grand winners.

Roman Han, President of Samsung Philippines, shared an inspiring message about the success of this year’s Solve for Tomorrow: “Here at Samsung, we believe our success is inseparable from the progress of the communities we serve. Solve for Tomorrow embodies this belief by empowering the next generation of heroes in our own local communities nationwide—equipping our young innovators with the education, tools, and opportunities they need to create their proposals for a better future.

He added, “Guided by our vision, ‘Together for Tomorrow: Enabling People’, we have remained dedicated for 15 years in enabling future leaders as they transform their ideas into meaningful, lasting impact, and we will continue this dedication for many years to come.”

For more information on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program in the Philippines, you can visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/. Learn more about Samsung’s innovative projects by visiting https://www.samsung.com/ph/.

Manila, Philippines – It’s now official! Samsung reveals the Top 10 finalists of its global program, Solve for Tomorrow competition – now in its 3rd year in the Philippines, and 15th year globally.

Bringing fresh ideas to real-world challenges, Samsung continues its mission to inspire the Filipino next-gen heroes with the return of Solve for Tomorrow 2025, as part of Samsung’s global initiative, partnering with the Department of Education (DepEd) to showcase innovative solutions from all government science high school students in grades 8 to 10, addressing challenges faced by their local communities.

The teams that will move forward to compete for the top 3 grand-winning prizes are: FloodSafe Routes AI from Philippine Science High School – Caraga Region Campus; Mangrove Health Monitor (MaHeMo) from Cavite Science Integrated School; SINAG from Bansud NHS – Regional Science High School; SARIMAX from Pasay City Science High School; The S.W.E.A.T Project from Philippine Science High School Main Campus; ShellTer from Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon Campus; VITALBAND from Marikina Science High School; S.A.G.I.P from Cavite Science Integrated School; BANTALAY from Tuguegarao City Science High School; and EGGNovation from Cavite Science Integrated School.

This year, Samsung garnered over 300 submissions, involving more than 1,000 students from across the Philippines. Each team, with up to four student members, was tasked to create a proposal following this year’s themes: Environmental Sustainability through Technology, Social Change through Tech and Sport, and Solving Community Problems with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

To evaluate this year’s entries, Samsung convened with a distinguished panel of industry leaders from the fields of technology, innovation, and education. The panel includes Monchito Ibrahim, the Executive Member of the National Innovation Council; Michelle S. Alarcon, President of Analytics & Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines; Alwyn Rosel, Executive Director of IdeaSpace Foundation and QBO Innovation; and Rachelle Perez, the Campus Program Lead of DEVCON Philippines, together with Dianne Capuz, Head of Consumer and Market Insights from Samsung Electronics Philippines.

The 10 finalists will now embark on an idea mentorship with Samsung experts, collaborating with their assigned coach to refine proposals, build proof-of-concepts, and create mock-ups ahead of the final presentation. This December, they will be presenting their proposals live for a chance to win over PHP 2 million in cash prizes and Samsung devices for their schools, teams, and teacher advisers. Joining the judging panel for the final round is Julius Arguson, Head of Product Engineering and Technical Compliance at Samsung Electronics Philippines.

“We are very happy with the increasing interest in Solve for Tomorrow, as we can see from the growing number of entries and teams joining the competition every year. It shows that more and more students from Science High Schools nationwide are harnessing their STEM knowledge and skills to help solve the issues their communities face, so we can have a better tomorrow,” shared Minsu Chu, President of Samsung Electronics Philippines.

“It is truly a special competition this year as we celebrate our 15th year globally for Solve for Tomorrow, and an honor to witness our Next-Gen Heroes share their innovative ideas powered by science and technology. We look forward to what our top 10 Next-Gen heroes have to offer as they move to the final round of the competition,” he added.

Back and bolder in its third year in the Philippines, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow continues to champion the creativity and compassion of Filipino youth. With this year’s focus on developing real-world solutions through the power of technology and artificial intelligence, the program inspires students to uplift their local communities—proving that innovation is most meaningful when it creates positive change where it matters most.

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Manila, Philippines — The final countdown has begun as the deadline for Samsung Philippines’ Solve for Tomorrow is fast approaching!

For over 15 years, Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow has empowered over 2.8 million students across 68 countries to innovate with purpose, generating over 400,000 ideas and championing real-world change through science and technology.

The nationwide innovation challenge is once again rallying young minds to transform big ideas into tangible solutions that can change communities — and possibly, the world. With more than ₱2 million worth of prizes at stake, Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition continues to inspire students to use science, technology, and creativity as tools for real-world impact.

The competition is open to students from Grades 8 to 10 enrolled in government-managed science high schools across the country. Participants are encouraged to form teams of up to four (4) members, guided by one (1) teacher adviser. Together, they must identify pressing issues within their communities and propose science and tech-driven solutions that address them.

Whether it’s championing environmental sustainability, driving social change through sports and technology, or tackling local challenges with the help of artificial intelligence, the goal is to create an innovation that makes an impact, not only on the country, but on the world.

Entries must be submitted on or before October 26, 2025, marking the final opportunity for aspiring young heroes to take part in this year’s challenge.

While the journey of innovation is a victory in itself, Samsung has ensured that the rewards are just as extraordinary. The grand champion will receive ₱500,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, along with ₱250,000 worth of gadgets for the team and adviser. They will also take home ₱100,000 in cash, with an additional ₱30,000 for the teacher adviser.

The second-place winners will receive ₱300,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, ₱250,000 worth of gadgets for the team, ₱70,000 in cash for the members, and ₱25,000 for their adviser. Third-place winners will bring home ₱200,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, ₱250,000 worth of gadgets for the team, ₱50,000 in cash for the members, and ₱15,000 for their adviser.

Even those who make it to the Top 10 will not leave empty-handed. Each finalist team will be awarded ₱15,000 in cash, while their dedicated teacher advisers will receive ₱5,000 each — a fitting tribute to their mentorship and support throughout the competition.

Together for Tomorrow across the region

Across Southeast Asia, the Solve for Tomorrow program has already sparked waves of innovation.

In Singapore, last year’s champions, Team redbluegold from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), designed smart glasses called “SilentGuide” that used artificial intelligence or AI to transcribe speech into subtitles, empowering the hearing impaired to connect with the world more easily.

Back in 2024, Solve for Tomorrow Malaysia crowned Team TerraInovators, from SMK Sultan Ismail, who created “Eco Pulse,” an AI-driven image recognition app designed to streamline the recycling process. Powered by advanced data science and algorithms, it estimates the value and weight of recyclable items with precision, driving the public to recycle waste.

These inspiring stories prove that when young minds are given a platform, creativity can transcend classrooms and transform lives.

Don’t miss your shot to change the future – win big while making a difference through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow! Interested participants can learn more about the program by visiting www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow or following Samsung Philippines on social media via Facebook (facebook.com/SamsungPH), X (x.com/SamsungPH), and Instagram (instagram.com/samsungph).

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Manila, Philippines – Not all heroes wear capes; some are dressed in uniforms. For 15 years, Samsung has been on a mission to find Next-Gen Heroes all around the globe with Solve for Tomorrow, which invites STEM students to create STEM-based solutions for real-world challenges in their local communities.

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has since become a global force for positive change through science and technology, active in 68 countries and empowering over 2.8 million students to think boldly and act locally. Through more than 400,000 innovative ideas, these young heroes are proving that real-world solutions can start in the classroom, and spark a better tomorrow for us all.

Now on its third run in the Philippines, Solve for Tomorrow is once again inviting a new set of Next-Gen Heroes to propose innovative, tech-based solutions to issues affecting their communities. Open to STEM students from Grades 8-10 from government-managed science high schools nationwide, over PHP 2 million worth of Samsung devices and cash prizes are up for grabs for the Top 10 winning teams and their schools.

Entries are accepted until October 26, 2025, with all competition and submission details found on this link: https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/.

15 Years of Solve for Tomorrow: Making a Next-Gen Hero

What started in 2010 as a simple essay contest in the United States has since evolved into a global platform for innovation and impact. Over the past 15 years, Solve for Tomorrow has grown far, becoming a dynamic competition that champions STEM education, fuels creative problem-solving, and equips the next generation of leaders to tackle pressing challenges in their own communities.

In 2013, Samsung expanded the competition to Asia, introducing a team-based format for students. Over time, the program grew to include countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. In 2023, Solve for Tomorrow was finally launched in the Philippines.

This year, Samsung is unveiling new global themes: Environmental Sustainability via Technology, which encourages students to harness technology to protect natural resources, promote eco-friendly practices, and build a greener future; and Social Change through Sport and Technology, which focuses on using sports and tech to unite communities, promote inclusivity, and inspire positive change.

Solve for Tomorrow in the Philippines

Samsung Electronics Philippines also introduces a new theme for this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition: Solving Local Community Problems with AI. The theme highlights how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to develop smart, practical solutions that improve daily life in local communities across the Philippines.

Supported by the Department of Education (DepEd) since its inaugural run in 2023, Solve for Tomorrow has quickly become a leading platform for young innovators from Science High Schools nationwide. In its first year, “Team Intellimeter” from the Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus won first place with a smart electric management system designed to boost energy efficiency and help mitigate climate change.

Second place went to Bansud National High School – Regional Science High School for “Project O.A.S.I.S” — a filtration system that removes oil and microplastics from ocean water. Team TomPost, also from Cagayan Valley Campus, placed third with their “Agricultural Waste Compost Processor”, which transforms tomatoes and other agricultural waste into compost and other usable products.

The 2024 competition continued this momentum. Lipa City Science Integrated National High School claimed first place with “Hi-LoWall”—a solar-powered fog wall that uses rice husk biochar and evaporative cooling to combat rising heat indices.

Philippine Science High School – Main Campus secured second place with “Croprotech”, a modular network that prevents soil degradation and improves land quality. Meanwhile, Calamba City Science Integrated School placed third with “SIMS: Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System”—a tool that uses sound and thermal sensors to monitor structural integrity and enhance public safety during natural disasters.

“For 15 years, Solve for Tomorrow has challenged students around the world to use technology to address real issues in their communities. At Samsung, we see this competition as a way to encourage creating practical, problem-solving strategies with the power of tech innovation. We’re proud to support the next generation as they apply technology to make a measurable impact where it matters most,” says Min Su Chu, President of Samsung Electronics Philippines.

Learn more and submit your entry for the Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition by visiting https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/.

Manila, Philippines – Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow marks its much-anticipated return to the Philippines, celebrating 15 years of empowering STEM students worldwide through technology and innovation. With the support of the Department of Education (DepEd), Samsung invites the next generation of Filipino innovators to take part in this global movement through bold, tech-driven solutions to real-world challenges.

Samsung, a global leader and pioneer in innovation, continues to champion inclusive access to technology and education through impactful programs that empower the youth, with a long-standing commitment to advancing STEM learning.

Now in its 15th year globally and its 3rd year in the country, Solve for Tomorrow opens its doors once again to Grades 8 to 10 students from all government-managed Science High Schools across the Philippines, with Samsung awarding over PHP 2 Million total worth of cash prizes and Samsung devices for the winning schools, teams, and teacher advisers.

Got a Big Idea? Here’s How to Join the Solve for Tomorrow 2025

This year, teams will be composed of up to four (4) students and one (1) teacher-adviser. Together, they are encouraged to bring forward creative, tech-powered solutions that make a real difference in their communities.

Teams should identify a local community or environmental sustainability problem they want to solve with the themes: Environmental Sustainability through Technology, Social Change through Tech and Sport, and Solving Community Problems with Artificial Intelligence (AI).

For the first theme, Environmental Sustainability through Technology, students can leverage STEM principles to reuse, recycle, and regenerate materials into high-value products — promoting sustainability and reducing waste in design, production, and consumption.

The second theme, Social Change through Tech and Sport, encourages students to harness sport and technology to drive education, entrepreneurship, and social inclusion, creating better opportunities and brighter futures for young people.

The final theme, Solving Community Problems with AI, invites students to apply AI in developing innovative, practical solutions to real challenges faced by their communities, fostering critical problem-solving, social responsibility, and tech-driven impact at the local level.

Students must develop a STEM proposal that presents their solution in a maximum of 2,500 words and not more than 7 pages for Word format, or 5 slides for PowerPoint format. Proposals must be submitted as a PDF file, not exceeding 40 MB.

The Deadline for Entry submissions is on October 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

Entries will be evaluated based on design innovation, relevance to the community, feasibility, STEM integration, sustainability, and clarity of proposal.

The top 10 shortlisted entries will be announced on November 11, 2025, and will receive mentoring from Samsung representatives to refine their solutions. These teams will then present their final proposals to a distinguished board of judges on December 3, 2025.  The top three teams will be announced on December 9, 2025, and awarded by Samsung Philippines.

More than PHP 2 Million Worth of Prizes Up for Grabs!

The top 10 teams for this year’s Solve for Tomorrow competition will receive more than PHP 2 million worth of Samsung devices and cash prizes. The Grand Prize winner will receive Php 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the students and their teacher, Php 100,000 in cash for the team members, and Php 30,000 in cash for their teacher.

Meanwhile, the Second Prize winner will take home Php 300,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, Php 70,000 in cash for the team members, and Php 25,000 in cash for the teacher.

Finally, the Third Prize winner will receive Php 200,000 worth of Samsung devices for their school, Php 250,000 worth of Samsung devices for the team and their teacher, Php 50,000 in cash for the team, and Php 15,000 in cash for the teacher.

The remaining teams in the top 10 will receive Php 15,000 in cash for their team and Php 5,000 for their teacher.

Empowering Future Innovators

Since its launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has evolved from a simple essay contest into a full-scale innovation platform. For 15 years, the program has equipped students with hands-on experience and design thinking tools, guiding them in finding real-world solutions through the power of tech, reflecting Samsung’s mission to make technology accessible for all while nurturing the next generation of “next-gen heroes”.

This year’s competition includes a bold new focus on the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), continuing Samsung’s goal to inspire students to imagine, create, and lead a better tomorrow.

In recent years, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of daily life, offering new ways to work and live more efficiently. This growing integration of AI presents a unique opportunity for young Filipinos, adept at utilizing AI tools like smartphones and voice assistants, to develop impactful solutions for pressing community challenges. Hence, this year’s “Solve for Tomorrow” initiative will prioritize AI-driven solutions for real-world issues, alongside fostering sustainability through the power of technology, and social change through the strategic application of both technology and sport.

To participate in this year’s Solve for Tomorrow, please visit  https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/. You can also follow Samsung Philippines on social media for the latest updates: Facebook- www.facebook.com/SamsungPH, X- www.x.com/SamsungPH, Instagram-  https://www.instagram.com/samsungph/#.

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Manila, Philippines – Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) has revealed the winners of its second Solve for Tomorrow competition, a global initiative designed to inspire young innovators to develop solutions for societal issues and become drivers of positive change in their communities.

In its sophomore year, Solve for Tomorrow received almost 300 entries from teams across the country composed of Grades 8-10 students of government-managed Science High Schools, which were narrowed down to 10 finalists. This year’s competition focuses on empowering students as the next generation of heroes, using technology to shape a better future.

After a round of mentoring from Samsung Philippines representatives, the top 10 teams presented their expanded proposals to an esteemed panel of judges, composed of Yna Quimson, Corporate Marketing Head of SEPCO; Jay Arguson, Head of Product Engineering and Technical Compliance of SEPCO; Monchito Ibrahim, Vice President of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines and Member of the National Innovation Council; Rachelle Perez, Campus Program Lead of DEVCON Philippines; and Alwyn Rocel, Deputy Director of IdeaSpace Foundation.

Present during the awarding ceremony in New World Makat Hotel was SEPCO President Min Su Chu, Chief Financial Officer Taekyun Kim, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Georgina H. Yang and  Embassy of South Korea Counselor Kwon Soon Hyun.

It was a close battle among the finalists, but three teams rose above the rest with their design solution’s innovativeness, creativity, and potential to create a positive and sustainable impact.

Championing Next Gen Heroes

This year’s Grand Prize winner hails from Lipa City Science Integrated National High School with members Celine Hariette A. Almarez, Margaret S. Bautista, and Marcus Miguel Q. Mojares and their adviser, Francis Darril A. Albo. Their entry, “Hi-LoWall: A Solar-Powered Rice Husk Fog Wall Utilizing Evaporative Cooling,” presents a water-efficient solution using rice husk biochar fog walls to combat rising heat indices caused by El Niño, which disrupts public schools through class suspensions, schedule changes, and altered learning modalities.

They will receive PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teachers.

The second prize winners are from Philippine Science High School-Main Campus with members Chael Matthew Sze, Alden Julian Gonzales, and Janine Yrah Tolentino, with their adviser, Book Kristoffer Lauw. Their entry, “Croprotech,” aims to boost crop production and revenue for Philippine farmers through a network of modules that prevent soil degradation and enhance land quality control.

They will receive PHP 320,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 70,000 for team members, PHP 15,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

The third prize winners were from Calamba City Science Integrated School with members “Ysabella Genesis Maderazo, Danise Ann Mariele S. Casilao, Frances Kylie A. Montano, and Wesley Aviv M. Macatangay, with their adviser, Marinel A. Degoma. Their entry, “SIMS: A Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System,” uses sound and thermal sensors to analyze structural integrity, enhancing public safety, reducing maintenance costs, and helping communities better withstand natural disasters.

They will receive PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teachers.

The other seven teams to make it to the finals and will receive Php 15,000 for their team and Php 5,000 for their teacher include “PAROLA: Utilizing Rain and Floodwater to generate Hydroelectric Power for Emergency Lamp Post” from Binan City Science and Technology High School, “BLOOM: Bio-flocculant Linked Oceanic Observation and Management Vessel for Algal Blooms” from Cavite Science Integrated School, “BEYONSEE: Multi-Purpose Smart Assistive Glasses and White Cane” from Makati Science High School, “sUN-Block: Solar-Powered Conveyor Belt System for Drainage Management” from Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon campus, “Development of a Bamboo and Coconut Coir-Based Oil and Microplastics Filtration System for River Water Quality Improvement” from Philippine Science High School – Ilocos Region campus, “CocoSorb – An Automated, Eco-Friendly Oil Absorption Device” from Philippine Science High School – Ilocos Region campus, and “ReLeaf: An AI and Machine Learning GIS-Based powered technology for Sustainable Smart Reforestation via an App Interface” from Valenzuela City of School of Mathematics and Science.

Transformative Ideas: Creating Better Solutions

Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow aims to provide opportunities for top students to transform emerging ideas into actions and unlock their full potential as future leaders for a better future. Solve for Tomorrow has successfully helped over 2 million people and has reached beyond the boundaries of 50 other countries, including the Philippines, as the latest addition this 2023.

This year, the competition was launched with the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Science High School System (PSHS). Solve for Tomorrow is part of Samsung’s CSR vision of Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People. Its mission is simple: to empower and support the next generation to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes.

Min Su Chu, President of SEPCO said: “At Samsung, it is our long-held belief that our company thrives when our employees, partners, and communities thrive. We are committed to empowering communities – now, and for the future. Solve for Tomorrow is a testament to this, which manifests our global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.’ It is our goal to always find opportunities to support providing education for future generations, and we want to empower future innovators to achieve their full potential.”

For more information on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program in the Philippines, you can visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/. To explore more on Samsung’s technology, please visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/.

After an extensive nationwide search, Samsung Electronics Philippines is revealing the Top 10 finalists of its global program, Solve for Tomorrow competition – now in its 2nd year in the Philippines!

As a testament to their commitment to shaping the country’s next-gen heroes, Samsung Electronics Philippines brought back Solve for Tomorrow for another innovation-packed season with the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Science High School System (PSHS), with public science high school students in grades 8 to 10 showcasing their ideas to solve local challenges.

The teams who will move forward with the final presentation are: VersaSprout from the Regional Science High School in La Union, CocoSorb from Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus, sUN-Block from Philippine Science High School-Central Luzon Campus, PAROLA from Biñan City Science and Technology High School, Development of a Bamboo and Coconut Coir-Based Oil and Microplastics Filtration System for River Water Quality Improvement from Philippine Science High School-Ilocos Region Campus, BEYONSEE from Makati West High School (Makati Science High School), Hi-LoWall from Lipa City Science Integrated National High School, SIMS from Calamba City Science Integrated School, Croprotech from Philippine Science High School-Main Campus, and ReLeaf from Valenzuela City School of Mathematics and Science.

This year, Samsung Electronics Philippines received almost 300 submissions and approximately over 1,000 students participating across the country. The teams, comprising a maximum of 4 members each, were asked to identify a local community or environmental sustainability problem they want to solve with technology or AI and come up with a design proposal to be screened by the Solve for Tomorrow panel of judges.

To evaluate the entries, Samsung Electronics Philippines tapped industry experts to provide their knowledge and expertise. This year’s esteemed judging panel is comprised of Monchito Ibrahim, Vice President of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines and an Executive Member of the National Innovation Council; Alwyn Rosel, Deputy Director of Ideaspace Ventures and QBO Innovation Hub and Rachelle Perez, Campus Program Lead of DEVCON Philippines along with Samsung Electronics Philippines representatives.

The 10 finalists will now undergo an idea mentorship with Samsung experts where they will communicate with their designated coach for the proposal improvement, proof-of-concept, or mock-up creation in preparation for their final presentation. They will move forward to the final round of judging this December for a chance to win PHP 2 million worth of cash prizes and Samsung devices for their school, teams, and teacher adviser.

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow 2023 Grand Finalists Reimagine the Future

In 2023, among over 200 entries in Samsung’s first-ever Solve for Tomorrow in the Philippines, three innovative solutions stood out. Last year’s Grand Prize winner hailing from Philippine Science High School-Cagayan Valley Campus is Team Intellimeter whose design solution aims to improve energy efficiency. Bansud NHS-Regional Science High School’s Project O.A.S.I.S. bagged the second prize with their filtration system to remove oil and microplastics from the ocean. Finally, the third-prize winners, also from Philippine Science High School-Cagayan Valley Campus, Team TomPost focused on the serious problem of waste in the agricultural sector, helping them to manage waste by repurposing tomatoes and other agricultural waste into compost and other products.

With the second run of Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung Electronics Philippines aims to empower even more STEM students across the country. They hope to encourage students to utilize technology by going beyond the classroom to challenge themselves to innovate and create solutions for the community, true to Samsung’s core philosophy.

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Calling all passionate STEM students! Do you have a great interest in technology and an amazing idea to help solve a community or sustainability problem? Join Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow 2024 with your team and get the chance to win big prizes from Samsung Philippines for you and your school.

Now in its second year, Samsung Philippines once again invites government-managed science high school students grades 8-10 to showcase their innovative ideas to solve local problems, sustainability issues or AI challenges  for a chance to win Samsung devices for their team, adviser and school, plus cash prizes.

Shaping the country’s next-gen Heroes

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow is a global program that aims to empower young innovators with opportunities to craft ideas to solve societal challenges and be the drivers of positive change in their local communities, further unlocking their potential as future leaders for a brighter future.

Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has successfully provided an avenue to top students, helped over 2 million people and reached 50 other countries– including the Philippines as its latest addition in 2023.

This year, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Philippine Science High School System continue to support the initiative in the country. Solve for Tomorrow is a part of Samsung’s Global CSR vision,” Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People”, a valuable mission to empower and hone the creativity of future innovators to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes through their solutions.

It’s your Turn to Revolutionize your Community’s Tomorrow

Solve for Tomorrow is open to Grades 8-10 students of government-managed Science High Schools nationwide. They should form a team with a maximum of four students each, and choose one faculty adviser from their respective school. Each faculty adviser can coach up to three (3) teams.

Teams formed should identify a local community / environmental sustainability problem they want to solve with technology and come up with a design proposal presented via a slides presentation (5 slides max with 2,500 words only) or word document (7 pages with Arial 11 font size). Once entry is finalized, submit via the official Solve for Tomorrow website. Deadline for entries is on October 25, 2024.

Entries will be evaluated based on design innovation, relevance to the community, feasibility, STEM integration, sustainability and clarity of proposal.

The top 10 entries will then be selected and finalists will be announced on November 13, 2024. The top 10 teams will  receive expert mentoring to improve their solutions and the chance to present their final proposals to the distinguished board of judges on December 3, 2024. The top three teams will be awarded first, second, and third prize respectively.

The Grand Prize winner will receive PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 200,000 worth of Samsung devices for the students and teacher, Php 650,00 worth of tablets and a TV for the school, Php 100,000 for the team members, Php 20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for the team members and their teacher.

Meanwhile, the Second Prize winner will take home Php 350,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, Php 75,000 for team members, Php 15,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for the team members and their teacher.

Finally, the Third Prize winner will receive Php 150,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, Php 50,000 for team members, Php 8,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for the team members and their teacher.

The rest of the top 10 will also receive Php 15,000 for their team and Php 5,000 for their teacher.

Solve for Tomorrow 2024 Partners

This year, Samsung Philippines tapped a judging panel with the same mission to empower the next generation of young Filipino innovators.

Joining this year’s Solve for Tomorrow are Ideaspace Ventures and QBO Innovation Hub, both currently led by Jay Fajardo and represented by the organization’s Deputy Director, Alwyn Rosel. Ideaspace Ventures is the investment arm of the IdeaSpace Foundation, while QBO Innovation is an accelerator that supports promising tech entrepreneurs and startups in the Philippines.

Also coming in as a judge is DEVCON Philippines, spearheaded by Winston Damarillo and to be represented by Rachelle Perez, the Campus Program Lead.  They are a  non-profit organization that promotes technology skills development through various programs for the Filipino developer community.

Returning this year is Monchito Ibrahim, Vice President of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines and an Executive Member of the National Innovation Council.

Through initiatives like Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung remains committed to championing the next generation of leaders and problem-solvers, empowering them to use their talents and knowledge to create meaningful change for a brighter, more sustainable world. Through this initiative, Samsung aims to unlock the potential of young minds and drive the innovations that will define the future.

For more information about Solve for Tomorrow Philippines, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow-2024/.

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Manila, Philippines – Samsung Philippines’ Solve for Tomorrow is back for another innovation-packed season and is calling for Filipino students to showcase their tech solutions to reimagine the future.

With the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Science High School System (PSHS), Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation continues their commitment to shaping the country’s next-gen heroes through the initiative by once again inviting public science high school students nationwide currently in grades 8 to 10 to showcase their best innovative ideas through the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition where they can get a chance to win PHP 2 Million worth of cash prizes and Samsung devices for their school, teams, and teacher adviser.

How to Join Solve for Tomorrow

Solve for Tomorrow 2024 is open to Grades 8-10 students of government-managed Science High Schools. They should form a team with a maximum of four (4) students each, and choose one faculty adviser from their respective schools. Each faculty adviser can coach up to three (3) teams.

Teams formed should identify a local community or environmental sustainability problem they want to solve with technology and AI  and come up with a design proposal presented via a slides presentation (5 slides max with 2,500 words only) or word document (7 pages with Arial 11 font size). Once entry is finalized, they should submit the file via the Solve for Tomorrow registration form at https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow-2024/.  Deadline for entries is on October 25, 2024.

Entries will be evaluated based on design innovation, relevance to the community, feasibility, STEM integration, sustainability, and clarity of proposal.

The entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts who will select the top 10 finalists to be announced on November 13, 2024. Finalists receive expert mentoring to improve their solutions and present their final proposals to the distinguished board of judges on December 3, 2024 to determine the top 3 winners.

The Grand Prize winner will take home PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP20,000 cash prize for the  teacher, and Samsung phone and tablets for team members and their teacher.

Meanwhile, the Second Prize winner will take home PHP 320,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 70,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 15,000 cash prize  for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

Finally, the Third Prize winner will receive PHP 175,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 50,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 10,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

The rest of the top 10 finalists will receive PHP 15,000 for their team and PHP 5,000 for their teacher.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow and complete contest details, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow-2024/.

Empowering the Next-gen Heroes

Solve for Tomorrow is a program under Samsung’s global corporate social responsibility vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’ which aims to empower and support the next generation of innovators to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes. Through this initiative, Samsung provides opportunities for up and coming STEM leaders to craft ideas and drive positive change in their communities through tech, encouraging them to approach problems in new ways to find innovative solutions.

Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has successfully provided an avenue to top students, helped over 2 million people, and reached 50 other countries. The program was first launched in the Philippines in 2023 where science high school students across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shared sustainability solutions for their community.

In 2023, Solve for Tomorrow received over 200 entries with the first-ever Grand Prize winner, Team Intelllimeter, creating a proposal that aims to improve energy efficiency through their smart electric  management system.  Meanwhile, second prize winner Project O.A.S.I.S, proposed a filtration system to remove oil and microplastics from the ocean while third placer TomPost focused on waste management for the agricultural sector by repurposing tomatoes and other agricultural waste into compost and other products.

Samsung is committed to expand its sustainability and educational programs in the Philippines with Solve for Tomorrow that is now in its 2nd year in the Philippines, “At Samsung, we are committed to empowering communities – now, and for the future. Solve for Tomorrow is a testament to this, which manifests our global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.’” SEPCO President, Min Su Chu shared.

“It is our goal to always find opportunities to support providing education for future generations, and we want to empower future innovators to achieve their full potential.”

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