Samsung Opens Applications for its 17th Annual Solve for Tomorrow Competition

Applications are now open for Samsung’s 17th annual Solve for Tomorrow competition, an education initiative designed to inspire U.S. public middle and high school students in grades 6-12 to use science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to address real-world challenges in their communities.

For educators, the competition offers a way to connect classroom learning to the issues students care about—from public health and accessibility to environmental challenges, sports, and more. Students can explore how technology might make a difference, develop their ideas, and gain hands-on experience bringing a solution to life.

Getting started is simple: educators can apply on behalf of their classrooms by answering five main questions about the community challenge their students want to address, their proposed STEM solution and its potential impact. Applications are due November 23, 2026.

New This Year: MIT Solve

For the first time, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow will be powered by MIT Solve, the global engine that moves capital to innovators solving humanity’s greatest challenges.

MIT Solve brings its signature methodology and research-backed platform to the competition, giving students’ solutions an additional perspective as they move through the competition and adding over a decade of experience to the judging process.

New This Year: AI Impact Award

As AI becomes an increasingly important part of how we live and work, students need opportunities to explore the technology thoughtfully and understand how it can be used to address real-world challenges. Through Solve for Tomorrow, Samsung is giving students a trusted environment to build critical thinking skills and explore AI with creativity, responsibility, and purpose.

This year, the competition will introduce a new AI Impact Award, recognizing innovative and impactful projects developed by students in grades 6–12. This award recognizes teams that demonstrate a clear understanding of real-world problems, thoughtful use of AI and emerging technology, and a commitment to ethical and responsible innovation.

The award builds on Solve for Tomorrow’s commitment to helping students use technology to solve meaningful problems, while encouraging them to think about AI as a tool for good.

From Classroom Ideas to Community Solutions

The impact of Solve for Tomorrow can be seen in the projects students have developed over the years. Last year’s national winners included Doral Academy of Northern Nevada in Reno, Nevada, whose students created an AI-powered wildfire detection system; Huff Consolidated Elementary & Middle School in Hanover, West Virginia, whose students designed a low-cost water purification system; and James Lick High School in San Jose, California, whose students explored technology to support earlier disease detection.

Read more about last year’s national winners and their solutions.

Since its launch, Solve for Tomorrow has helped students connect STEM learning to real-world challenges while giving educators opportunities to bring hands-on problem solving into their classrooms. The program is designed to help students build skills they can carry into school, work, and life – whether or not they ultimately pursue a STEM career.

What Teachers Need to Know

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is open to U.S. public middle and high school students in grades 6-12. Teachers can enter on behalf of their classrooms and help students develop a STEM-based solution to a challenge in their community.

This year’s competition will recognize one national winner, who will earn up to $50,000 in Samsung technology and resources, such as funding through education nonprofit DonorsChoose, for their school, alongside Community Choice, Employee Choice, and the new AI Impact Award.

Educators will also have access to free resources throughout the application process, including Virtual Application Clinics and Design Thinking workshops. Led by MIT Solve staff and Samsung experts, these sessions will walk participants through key competition details, offer tips for developing a strong submission and provide opportunities to ask questions along the way.

Key Dates

• September 30, 2026: Applications open
• November 23, 2026: Applications due
• January 20, 2027: Promising Innovators and semi-finalists announced
• March 18, 2027: National finalists announced
• April 2027: Final event and live winner announcement

For more information about the competition, eligibility, and how to apply, visit Samsung Solve for Tomorrow. Applications are open through November 23, 2026.

*Key program dates for 2026-2027 are subject to change.