Samsung has launched the fifth edition of its flagship education and innovation program, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, in India. Coinciding with the company’s 30th anniversary of operations in the country, the 2026 edition has been expanded to further support India’s innovation ecosystem and align with the #DigitalIndia initiative.
The program is designed to encourage young innovators to develop technology-driven solutions for real-world challenges.
Program Themes and Eligibility
The 2026 program is open to students between the ages of 14 and 22. Participants are invited to submit their technological solutions across four specific themes:
- AI Living for India
- Health & Education
- Environmental Sustainability
- Sport & Tech
These categories reflect areas where technology is increasingly utilized to foster inclusive and future-ready development.
Application and Selection Process
The six-month program is structured to guide participants from initial ideation to the development of scalable solutions.
- Application Period: Applications are open from May 7 to July 3, 2026.
- Initial Workshops: During the application phase, Samsung will host 100 design-thinking workshops at schools and colleges across India to teach foundational problem-solving skills.
Shortlisting Phases:
- Top 100: Following the application deadline, the top 100 teams (25 from each theme) will be selected for expert-led online training.
- Top 40: After a video pitch evaluation, 40 teams (10 per theme) will advance.
- Top 20: The semi-finalists will be narrowed down to the top 20 teams (five per theme) for the grand finale.
Mentorship and Development Exposure
As participants progress through the competition, they receive increasing levels of support and industry exposure. Semi-finalists will engage in intensive mentoring sessions with Samsung executives and industry professionals.
To provide practical exposure to corporate innovation ecosystems, participants will also attend curated visits to Samsung’s Head Office and Research & Development (R&D) centers located in Bengaluru, Noida, and Delhi. Teams advancing to the later stages will undergo an immersive residential bootcamp and prototyping program to refine their projects ahead of investor meets and final pitch presentations.
Awards, Grants, and Incubation Support
Samsung has outlined a tiered reward system for advancing teams, with the top four overall winners receiving significant incubation grants to scale their projects at IIT Delhi.
| Advancement Stage | Financial Grant | Additional Rewards / Devices |
| Top 100 Teams | None | Certificates of achievement |
| Top 40 Teams | INR 8 lakh | Samsung laptops for every team member |
| Top 20 Teams | INR 20 lakh | Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphones for every member |
| Top 4 Winning Teams | INR 2 crore | Incubation support at IIT Delhi |
Note: Samsung will also award a Digital Impact Award and a Community Choice Award, which share a combined additional prize pool of INR 2.5 lakh.
Global Context
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow initiative was originally launched in the United States in 2010. Since its inception, the program has expanded its operational footprint to 68 countries, engaging over 3 million young participants worldwide in technology and innovation-driven problem-solving.
Regarding this, JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia, said:
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.