Winning student teams will share ₹2 crore in grants

Samsung has opened applications for a six-month innovation programme offering ₹2 crore in funding and IIT Delhi mentorship.

Navi Mumbai | editorial@unboxdailyhq.com

The Essentials

  • Samsung is inviting students aged 14 to 22 to develop technology-driven solutions for social challenges in India.
  • The 2026 programme has doubled its total grant pool to ₹2 crore for the top four winning teams.
  • Participants gain access to 240,000 hours of training and specialized workshops across 100 Indian cities.

The Pulse

The fifth edition of Samsung Solve for Tomorrow focuses on four specific areas: AI Living, Health and Education, Environmental Sustainability, and Sport and Tech. This is a significant shift toward practical application, as winners do not just receive a cheque; they move into incubation at IIT Delhi to turn their prototypes into real businesses.

How do I apply for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026? Applications are currently open on the Samsung India website and will remain so until 3 July 2026.

The rewards are tiered to support growth at every stage. While the top four teams get the largest grants, the top 20 teams receive ₹20 lakh and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones. Even those in the top 40 are granted ₹8 lakh and Samsung laptops, ensuring that nearly four dozen student groups have the capital to continue their work after the competition ends.

The Snapshot

FeatureDetails
Programme NameSamsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026
EligibilityStudents aged 14–22
Total Winning Grant₹2 crore (divided among top 4 teams)
Top 20 Prize₹20 lakh and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones
Top 40 Prize₹8 lakh and Samsung laptops
Key ThemesAI, Health, Environment, Sport
Application Deadline3 July 2026
Incubation PartnerIIT Delhi
AvailabilityOpen to residents across India

The Big Picture

This initiative arrives as India strengthens its position as a global startup hub, particularly through the Digital India framework. While many corporate social responsibility projects focus on basic literacy, this programme targets “deep-tech” at the school and college level. It mirrors efforts like the Atal Innovation Mission but adds the weight of private sector R&D expertise. By involving the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, Samsung is aligning its commercial innovation goals with national priorities, ensuring student projects have a path toward government-level adoption.

The Inside Intel

Samsung has been operating in India for 30 years, and this edition of the programme is its largest yet. While it started in the US in 2010, the Indian version now includes a massive outreach component involving 100 design-thinking workshops. This ensures that students in smaller towns have the same access to silicon-valley style problem-solving methods as those in major metros.

The UDHQ. Take

Unbox Daily HQ. views this as the most substantial opportunity for a young Indian student with a technical mind and a social conscience. For a 14-year-old with a brilliant idea, the prize money is life-changing, but the 240,000 hours of training and IIT Delhi incubation are what actually build a career. If you are a student or a parent of one, the investment of time required for the application is negligible compared to the access to Samsung’s Bengaluru and Noida R&D centres. This is a rare bridge from a classroom concept to a registered startup. Apply before the July deadline.

Best for: Ambitious students in India who want to turn a technical prototype into a scalable social enterprise.

Who Is This For: Perfect for 14 to 22 year old innovators in schools and colleges who have a specific solution for Indian environmental or health challenges.

The Checkout

Samsung India

The Source

Samsung India

When is the last date to apply for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026?

Applications for the fifth edition of the programme remain open from 7 May until 3 July 2026. Students can submit their ideas through the official Samsung India website during this window to be considered for the shortlisting rounds.

What is the total prize money for Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in India?

The 2026 programme has doubled its funding to provide a total grant pool of ₹2 crore for the top four winning teams. Additionally, the top 20 and top 40 teams receive ₹20 lakh and ₹8 lakh respectively, alongside Samsung devices like laptops and Galaxy Z Flip smartphones.

Who is eligible to participate in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow programme?

The competition is open to Indian students between the ages of 14 and 22 who have ideas for solving societal challenges. Applicants must focus their solutions on one of the four key themes: AI Living, Health and Education, Environmental Sustainability, or Sport and Tech.

Ashfaque S.
Ashfaque S.

I have spent 20+ years building, breaking, and rebuilding the systems that power modern India, from networking infrastructure to web ecosystems. At Unbox Daily HQ., I cover Technology, Health, Sports, and Business not because I was assigned them, but because I am genuinely obsessed with how they work. I stress-test every innovation before I write about it. If it does not hold up under scrutiny, you will know.

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