Samsung India has revealed the winners of the third edition of its flagship education and innovation competition, ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2024’, with Eco Tech Innovator from Golaghat, Assam, and METAL from Udupi, Karnataka, taking the top spots.
This nationwide contest aims to empower young innovators to tackle real-world problems using technology and innovation, and this year’s winners highlight the programme’s reach beyond India’s major cities.
Samsung India Announces Winners of ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2024’: Eco Tech Innovator and METAL Shine as Champions
Meet the Champions
- Eco Tech Innovator was crowned the Community Champion in the School Track for its innovative solution addressing equitable access to clean drinking water. The team received a seed grant of INR 25 lakh to advance its prototype.
- METAL, which developed groundbreaking technology for arsenic removal from groundwater, won the Environment Champion title in the Youth Track. The team received INR 50 lakh and incubation support at IIT-Delhi.
Supporting Education with Technology
In recognition of their achievements, the schools and colleges of the winning teams will also receive Samsung products to encourage a problem-solving mindset among students. These include Smart Display Flip 75” screens, Freestyle Projectors, and Galaxy Tab S10+ tablets for the Community Champion’s school, and Galaxy Book 4 Pro laptops for the Environment Champion’s college.
Empowering Young Innovators
As part of the ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ initiative, all ten finalist teams, composed of 22 students, were awarded INR 1 lakh each and received certificates for their innovative contributions. School Track participants received Galaxy Watch Ultra, while Youth Track participants were given Galaxy Z Flip6 devices.
Speaking on the occasion, JB Park, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia, said, “We are incredibly proud of the creativity and innovation shown by all participants in ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2024’. Eco Tech Innovator and METAL exemplify the potential of young minds to create meaningful societal impact. We are committed to nurturing these talents and helping their ideas come to life.”
The Grand Finale
The top 10 teams competed in the Grand Finale, presenting their prototypes to a jury that included industry experts and executives from Samsung, IIT-Delhi, and the United Nations. Participants submitted their ideas under two main themes: ‘Community and Inclusion’ and ‘Environment and Sustainability’. Their solutions focused on tackling key issues like education, water conservation, digital literacy, and resource access for underserved communities.
In addition to the main prizes, special awards were also presented. The ‘Social Media Champion Award’ and the ‘Goodwill Award’ went to You from the School Track and EnvTech from the Youth Track, who received INR 50,000 each for their social media contributions. The Goodwill Award winners, Preator VR and BioD, received INR 1 lakh each.
A Global Impact
First launched in the US in 2010, Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ programme is now active in 63 countries, engaging over 2.3 million young innovators globally. The initiative aligns with Samsung’s CSR vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People”, and aims to equip young individuals with the skills and education they need to become future leaders.
This year’s competition saw a diverse range of participants from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, from Imphal in Manipur to Bilaspur in Chhattisgarh. Through their innovative solutions, these young minds aim to not only transform their local communities but also contribute to solving national challenges, using technology as a tool for positive change.
For more details on Samsung and Samsung India’s global CSR initiatives, visit their CSR webpage.
Samsung’s ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2024’ showcases the power of youth, technology, and innovation in addressing critical societal and environmental issues. With winners like Eco Tech Innovator and METAL, the future of India’s innovation landscape looks bright. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from these young changemakers!