Samsung India has announced the Top 100 teams selected for the fifth edition of its flagship innovation programme, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) 2026, with more than 50 per cent of the shortlisted innovators representing Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities across the country. The initiative highlights the growing innovation ecosystem beyond metropolitan centres, with participants from districts such as Buxar in Bihar, Kamrup in Assam, Kaithal in Haryana, Sundargarh in Odisha, and Medchal-Malkajgiri in Telangana.
The programme, one of India’s largest youth innovation platforms, witnessed an 85 per cent increase in applications and a 95 per cent rise in participation compared to the previous edition. Open to young people aged 14–22 years, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow encourages participants to develop technology-driven solutions to address pressing social challenges.
This year’s shortlisted teams have proposed innovations across four focus areas—AI Living for India, Health and Education, Sport & Tech, and Environmental Sustainability. Their ideas include AI-powered crime reporting platforms, smart wearables for visually impaired and autistic users, interactive classroom technologies, AI-assisted coaching tools for athletes with disabilities, and low-cost early warning systems for natural disasters, reflecting the programme’s emphasis on socially impactful innovation.
Commenting on the announcement, Shubham Mukherjee, Head, Corporate Communications & CSR, Samsung Southwest Asia, said the growing participation from smaller cities demonstrates that innovation thrives wherever young people have access to opportunities, mentorship, and technology. He added that as Samsung marks 30 years in India, the company remains committed to supporting the next generation of innovators contributing to the country’s digital future.
The selected teams will now receive mentoring from startup founders, industry experts, and academic mentors from FITT-IIT Delhi. The Top 40 teams will participate in a 10-day Innovation Bootcamp and visit Samsung’s research and development centres, while the Top 20 will receive additional funding for prototype development before advancing to the Grand Finale.
The four winning teams will collectively receive an incubation grant of up to ₹2 crore, along with incubation support from FITT-IIT Delhi to help transform their ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions.
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