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INDIA – 17 August, 2026: Samsung India today announced the Top 40 semi-finalist teams of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, its flagship youth innovation programme that gives young people a platform to identify challenges around them and turn their ideas into solutions through mentorship, technology, prototyping and hands-on learning.
Now in its fifth edition in India in 2026, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is open to young people aged 14 to 22 and is designed to nurture problem-solving and innovation among the country’s next generation.
Top 40 teams represent 15 states and 26 cities, with more than half coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 Indian cities such as Guntur, Sundargarh and Coimbatore
These semi-finalists will receive cumulative ₹8 lakh for prototype development, along with Samsung laptops for every team member
Young innovators are developing solutions ranging from AI tools for small businesses and accessible education to agricultural residue management and inclusive sports
The Top 40 represent 15 states and 26 cities, with more than half of the teams coming from Tier 2 and Tier 3 India. Young innovators from Varanasi, Coimbatore, Guntur, Amritsar, Sundargarh and Rajkot have made it to the national semi-finals alongside teams from major technology and education hubs.
The shortlist comprises 10 teams each across the four themes of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026 – AI Living for India, Health and Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport & Tech.
“What stands out in this year’s Top 40 is how closely young people are looking at the world around them. They are identifying problems in their communities, classrooms, farms, businesses and playing fields, and asking how technology can make a difference. The fact that more than half of these teams come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 India is particularly encouraging because it shows that the next generation of innovation can emerge from anywhere. Our role through Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is to give these young innovators the mentorship, technology and opportunity to turn their ambition into impact. As Samsung completes 30 years in India, we want to continue investing in the ideas and talent that will shape the country’s next 30 years,” said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia.
The semi-finalists are working on ideas ranging from AI tools that could make financial and essential information more accessible to solutions for agricultural residue, assistive technologies for people with disabilities, affordable healthcare and education tools, and technologies designed to make sport more inclusive.
Among the Top 40 is AIRMED from Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, which is exploring how AI could help built about India as a global healthcare destination. AIRMED wants to connect overseas patients with Indian hospitals.
Code Blooded from Sundargarh, Odisha uses specialised AI to identify sporting talent among para-athletes in smaller cities and rural areas.
AcoustiNode Systems from Thrissur, Kerala addresses dam management through better hydrological intelligence, with the aim of reducing poorly informed reservoir releases and improving flood, irrigation and power-management decisions.
QuantHunt from Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh tackles the emerging cybersecurity threats, where encrypted data stolen today could potentially be decrypted as computing capabilities advance.
Other teams are developing technology to help visually-impaired swimmers train more independently, an AI companion aimed at improving access to education for visually impaired students, a solution that can turn existing classroom projectors into interactive learning platforms, and technology designed to convert biomass into clean energy and useful carbon resources.
“The transition from an interesting idea to a viable solution is often the most difficult part of the innovation journey. What is encouraging about this cohort is that 25 of the Top 40 teams have already started building prototypes. The next phase will challenge them to test their assumptions, learn from users, strengthen their technology and think more deeply about how their solutions can work at scale. That process of learning by building is fundamental to creating strong innovators,” said Dr Nikhil Agrawal, Managing Director, Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), IIT Delhi.
From Ideas to Prototypes
The Top 40 will now enter an intensive phase of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow designed to help them develop and strengthen their ideas.
An Innovation Bootcamp, scheduled to begin in September, will give participants exposure to Samsung’s innovation ecosystem, including visits to Samsung R&D centres in Bengaluru, Delhi and Noida, as well as its Southwest Asia headquarters.
The teams will subsequently undergo intensive training and mentoring with FITT, IIT Delhi, receiving guidance on prototyping, problem-solving and developing their ideas for real-world application. Alumni from previous editions of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow will also participate in the mentoring journey, allowing participants to learn from young innovators who have previously gone through the programme.
The semi-final stage will culminate in a National Pitch Event, where the teams will present their solutions before a Samsung jury. Twenty finalist teams will advance to the last stage of the competition.
Awards and Support
Top 40 teams will receive a cumulative ₹8 lakh for prototype development, while each team member will receive a Samsung laptop.
The Top 20 teams will receive a cumulative ₹20 lakh for prototype enhancement, along with the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip smartphone for each team member.
At the culmination of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026, the Top 4 winning teams will receive a cumulative grant of ₹2 crore from Samsung for incubation at IIT Delhi, helping them further develop and scale their solutions.
The programme will also recognize participants through special awards at the Grand Finale, including the Digital Impact Award of ₹50,000 and 2 Community Choice Awards of ₹1 lakh each.
Five Years of Taking Innovation Across India
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow was launched in India in 2022 to give young people a platform to identify problems that matter to them and develop ideas into solutions through mentorship, technology and hands-on learning.
Several youth-led startups have been incorporated through the programme since 2022. Over the past four years, Samsung has invested in nurturing young innovation through ₹2 crore in incubation grants at IIT Delhi and over ₹3 crore in cash prizes and technology products, providing emerging innovators with the resources and support to turn ideas into solutions.
Now in its fifth edition, the programme has progressively expanded its reach beyond India’s largest cities. Ahead of the Top 100 selection this year, Samsung conducted 184 Design Thinking Workshops across 135 cities, taking innovation and problem-solving directly to young people across the country.
As Samsung celebrates 30 years in India, Solve for Tomorrow reflects the company’s long-term commitment to supporting young people and strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.
Globally, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow was launched in the United States in 2010 and has since expanded to 68 countries, engaging more than 3 million young people worldwide. The programme is part of Samsung Electronics’ global CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.”
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the world of TVs, digital signage, smartphones, wearables, tablets, home appliances and network systems, as well as memory, LSI and foundry. Samsung is also advancing medical imaging technologies, HVAC solutions and robotics, while creating innovative automotive and audio products through Harman. With its SmartThings ecosystem, open collaboration with partners, and integration of AI across its portfolio, Samsung delivers a seamless and intelligent connected experience. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at https://news.samsung.com/in/