Samsung India Launches ‘Solve For Tomorrow 2025’ Competition With Over INR 1 Crore In Grants

Highlights

The 2025 edition provides an incubation programme for the Top 4 winning teams that will receive a grant of INR 1 crore. Additionally, the Top 20 teams will be awarded INR 20 lakh, while the Top 40 teams will receive INR 8 lakh

This year, two global themes — Social change through Sports and Tech for Education and Better Futures and Environmental Sustainability via Technology — have been introduced, empowering students to address both local and global challenges

The initiative will provide students with hands-on prototyping along with 82,000 hours of training and mentorship support to empower participants

The programme is open to students aged 14-22 and will span six months, with applications accepted from April 29 to June 30, 2025

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, unveiled the fourth iteration of its Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ initiative – a nationwide contest designed to inspire students to create innovative solutions to address some of society’s most pressing challenges by leveraging technology.

Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.

This recognition highlights the significance of nurturing solutions that not only excel in the competition but also transcend it, ultimately evolving into scalable and sustainable ventures that will play a pivotal role in shaping communities across India.

The programme, spanning six months, invites students aged 14-22 to submit their tech ideas as either individuals or groups. This year, participants are encouraged to create solutions across four key themes: AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat; Future of Health, Hygiene, and Well-being in India; Social change through Sports and Tech for Education and Better Futures; and Environmental Sustainability via Technology.

“With Solve for Tomorrow, we are inspiring young innovators across every corner of India to dream big, tackle real-world challenges, and shape a smarter, more inclusive future through technology. This year, Solve for Tomorrow is going to be even bigger and more inclusive. We are reaching more cities, engaging students from more schools and colleges, and creating avenues for them to innovate, while applying the principles of design thinking. Solve for Tomorrow stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to the Government of India’s pioneering #DigitalIndia initiative that empowers our youth to become architects of the future,” said JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia.

“IIT Delhi is excited about fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem solving among youth. Our collaboration with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow offers mentorship, research infrastructure, and technical guidance to help the young turn their ideas into products that impact society. We are delighted to be part of this initiative that enables socially conscious innovation and contributes to Viksit Bharat,” said Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director, IIT Delhi.

“India’s young innovators are at the heart of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and realizing the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. With more young minds to tap solutions than any country ever before, India is uniquely positioned to lead with ideas that address local challenges and inspire global change. Initiatives like Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow provide a vital platform for young people to turn their ideas into solutions for the global good, using technology to drive inclusive and sustainable progress. The UN in India is proud to support such collaborations, especially with the private sector, that uplift youth leadership, innovation, and action, ensuring that we leave no one behind,” said Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India. 

“Young people hold the key to solving today's most urgent global challenges. Initiatives Iike Solve for Tomorrow 2025 empower them to turn their ideas into reality using technology. We are excited to see solutions that help scale youth-led ideas to drive real change across communities,” said Abhishek Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

The fourth iteration of Samsung India’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aims to involve thousands of participants, offering more than 82,000 hours of extensive training in Design Thinking, Hands-on Prototyping, Go-to-Market Strategies, and Business Planning. In the final phase, teams selected as finalists will benefit from specialized training and mentorship provided by Samsung, IIT Delhi, and industry professionals.

‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ was inaugurated at IIT Delhi in the presence of all partners on Tuesday. Present at the event were Dr Sapna Poti, Senior Director, Office of Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Shardul Rao, Scientist C, Department of Science & Technology, Government of India and P. S. Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub.

From ideas to impact: Programme stages

The application window for the initiative will be open from April 29 to June 30, 2025. During this period, Samsung will host immersive design-thinking workshops in schools and colleges across the nation, empowering participants with essential problem solving and ideation skills.

After the initial application phase, the top 100 teams will be chosen, with 25 teams selected from each of the themes. At this stage, participants will undergo online training led by thematic experts, followed by a video pitch round where 40 teams will be shortlisted – 10 teams from each theme.

The top 10 semi-finalist teams from each theme will then progress to an intensive mentorship program guided by Samsung’s industry veterans and subject matter experts. These teams will also participate in curated learning visits to Samsung’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the Samsung R&D Institute India in Bengaluru, Noida, and Delhi, as well as Samsung Design Delhi, offering them first-hand exposure to world-class innovation ecosystems.

This phase will culminate in an experiential, hands-on Prototyping Programme at Delhi’s state-of-the-art labs, in collaboration with ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ alumni. There will also be a Residential Bootcamp focused on refining ideas and preparing for the final pitch. The top 20 teams will be finalized after this phase, with five teams from each theme advancing to the grand finale. These top five teams from each theme will receive exclusive one-on-one mentoring sessions with Samsung experts. They will participate in a Prototyping Day, Pitch Presentation, Investor Meet, and Awards Ceremony, all held over the last three days of the competition.

What is in it for the participants

The top 100 teams will receive certificates of achievement. The top 40 teams will receive INR 8 lakh and the latest Samsung laptops for every member. The top 20 will receive with INR 20 lakh and the latest Samsung ZFlip smartphones for each member.

In addition, special awards include the Goodwill Award, Young Innovator Award, and Social Media Champion, with a total prize amount of INR 4.5 lakh.

The four winning teams will collectively receive a grant of INR 1 crore for incubation at IIT Delhi, providing substantial resources to accelerate their innovative projects. This funding aims to nurture their ideas into reality.

First launched in the US in 2010, ‘Solve for Tomorrow’ is currently operational in 68 countries globally and has seen over 3 million young people participate worldwide.

The Global CSR vision of Samsung Electronics – ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’ – is determined to provide education to young people around the world and empower them to become the leaders of tomorrow. Read more stories on Samsung Electronics’ CSR efforts on our CSR webpage https://csr.samsung.com/en-in/localMain.do

Samsung Newsroom India Link: Igniting Gen Z Innovation: Samsung India Launches ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ Competition with Over INR 1 Crore In Grants – Samsung Newsroom India

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, home appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions, and delivering a seamless connected experience through its SmartThings ecosystem and open collaboration with partners. For latest news on Samsung India, please visit Samsung India Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com/in. For Hindi, log on to Samsung Newsroom Bharat at https://news.samsung.com/bharat. You can also follow us on Twitter @SamsungNewsIN. 

Purple Turtle’s Magical World Comes Alive At Phoenix Mall Of Asia, Bengaluru

Mark your calendars for a weekend full of fun, laughter, and learning as the star of an Emmy Award-winning animated series, Purple Turtle, the star of the beloved animated preschool series and book franchise, arrives at Phoenix Mall of Asia – Bengaluru for a special Meet and Greet on 3rd and 4th May 2025.

Over two exciting days, children will get the chance to watch Purple Turtle in action, interact with him up close, and take-home fun memories with a photo opportunity galore. From drawing corners and puzzle-solving stations to exciting games, there’s something for every young adventurer to enjoy. To top it all off, families can enjoy a delicious selection of kid-friendly treats from a variety of F&B stalls at the venue.

With values rooted in kindness, courage, and curiosity, Purple Turtle is more than just a character — he’s a role model for kids and a source of joy for families. Treat kids with a joyous weekend experience, the perfect way to kick off May with heartwarming entertainment that brings the screen to life.

Event Details

Dates: 3rd & 4th May 2025 (Saturday & Sunday)

Time: 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Venue: Plaza, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru

Entry: Registration (Free)

MIT WPU School Of Economics And Commerce Launches B. Com Financial Analysis Program

MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU) has launched its new B.Com Financial Analysis program, with the CFA Institute delegation in attendance. The ceremony highlighted collaborative plans to integrate advanced financial curriculum into the university's academic programs, aiming to equip students with the skills required for successful careers in the global finance sector.

Sharing about the event, Dr. Anjali Sane, Dean of the School of Economics and Commerce at MIT-WPU, said, " With the successful launch of the B.Com Financial Analysis program, we had the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions on emerging trends in the investment industry. Our focus has been on building a curriculum that meets global industry standards and empowers students with the skills needed to thrive in the world of finance. We’re confident this program will prepare them to be industry-ready from the very start of their professional journey.”

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Paul Moody, Managing Director, Global Partnerships & Client Solutions, CFA Institute, said, “We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of MIT World Peace University’s B.Com Financial Analysis program, which now integrates our Investment Foundations Certificate. This collaboration will provide students with a solid foundation in investment and financial knowledge, preparing them for successful global careers in finance.”

Dr. R. M. Chitnis, Vice Chancellor, MIT-WPU, said, “CA, CS, and CMA are professional courses in India, focused on auditing, taxation, and legal compliance, authorized under Acts of Parliament. In contrast, the CFA is a global qualification that supports companies in finance and investment banking, representing a distinct domain. Students who pursue these professional degrees alongside the CFA qualification will gain a significant competitive advantage in the fast-evolving world of finance.”

Under the newly launched B.Com Financial Analysis program, MIT-WPU will offer on-campus training for the CFA Level I and II examinations, integrating them directly into the curriculum. In the first year, students will also have the opportunity to pursue the Investment Foundations Certificate from CFA Institute. This certificate will provide them with a thorough understanding of the investment industry, including its structure, core concepts, and ethical considerations. It will also equip students with the foundational knowledge covered in CFA Level I, offering valuable insights into financial markets, professional roles, and client needs—empowering them to advance in their finance careers.

The inclusion of the Investment Foundations Certificate in the program is set to open new avenues for academic enrichment, professional certification support, and global exposure for students, further reinforcing MIT-WPU’s commitment to delivering future-ready education.

Samsung Opens Registration For Its New Vision AI Televisions In India

Samsung, India's largest consumer electronics brand, today announced that customers registering interest for its new range of Neo QLED, OLED and QLED AI televisions can avail INR 5000 discount, along with other launch offers. Samsung is likely to announce its new range of Vision AI televisions early next month.

Samsung Vision AI represents a paradigm shift in how consumers interact with televisions. By incorporating on-device AI capabilities, Vision AI enables televisions to become aware of their surroundings, adapt to user preferences, and act autonomously to enhance the viewing experience.

Samsung has been the global leader in the television market for 19 consecutive years, according to market research firm Omdia. This continued success is driven by the company’s commitment to premium and ultra-large screen innovation, as well as the introduction of cutting-edge, AI-powered televisions.

Consumers interested in purchasing Samsung’s new range of AI televisions should register themselves on Samsung.com. After registration, customers can avail INR 5000 discount and other launch offers, while purchasing the television.

Indian Startup Bud Ecosystem Pioneers GPU-Free Generative AI

In an effort to tackle the rising costs and sustainability challenges associated with generative AI, India-based GenAI research lab Bud Ecosystem has introduced an innovative new product, Bud Runtime. Designed to streamline the deployment of generative AI applications, Bud Runtime enables deployment on CPU-based infrastructure, offering a more affordable, scalable and sustainable option for organizations looking to harness the power of generative AI.

Since late 2023, Bud Ecosystem has been collaborating with companies like Intel, Microsoft, and Infosys to commoditize generative AI and make it easily accessible to organizations worldwide. Bud Runtime significantly reduces both capital and operational expenditures for organizations adopting generative AI, without compromising application performance. It enables developers, startups, companies, and research institutions to kickstart their generative AI initiatives at a cost as low as $200 per month.

In addition to supporting CPU-based inference, Bud Runtime also supports a broad range of hardware—including GPUs, HPUs, TPUs, and NPUs—from major vendors like Nvidia, Intel, AMD, and Huawei. One of the key innovations in Bud Runtime is its support for heterogeneous cluster parallelism, which allows organizations to utilize a mix of their existing hardware—including CPUs, GPUs, HPUs, and other architectures—for deploying generative AI workloads and easily scale as more compute resources become available. Enabling organizations to mitigate GPU shortages and lower operational costs of running generative AI applications. Bud Runtime is currently the only platform on the market offering this level of heterogeneous hardware parallelism and clustering.

“We began our GenAI journey in early 2023 and quickly encountered the high cost of GPUs. To tackle this, we built the first version of the Bud runtime to run smaller models on our existing infrastructure. Since then, we've evolved it to support mid-size models on CPUs and added compatibility with hardware from Nvidia, AMD, Intel, Huawei, and more—thereby reducing costs and addressing hardware scarcity. As we saw others facing similar barriers, we decided to productise the technology to help startups, enterprises, and researchers adopt GenAI more efficiently.” — Jithin V.G, CEO, Bud Ecosystem, said.

Bud Ecosystem focuses on fundamental AI research, particularly in efficient transformer architectures for low-resource scenarios, decentralized models, hybrid inference, and AI inference optimization. The company also has published multiple research papers and released over 20 open-source models to its credit. Bud is also the only startup from India to have topped the Hugging Face LLM leaderboard for building a large language model on par with GPT-3.5 at the time.

For the past 18 months, Bud Ecosystem has been working with Intel to make production-ready GenAI inference possible on CPUs, especially their Xeon lineup. This collaboration was later extended to support Intel Gaudi accelerators as well. In addition to this partnership, the research lab has also joined hands with global technology companies like Microsoft, LTIM, and Infosys to help organizations around the world adopt Generative AI in a cost-effective and scalable way.

“Our mission is to democratize GenAI at scale by commoditizing it. This is only possible if we can use commodity hardware for GenAI at scale. To achieve this, we need to further enhance inference technology and develop better model architectures that require less parallel compute and memory bandwidth. Most of our research and engineering efforts are focused on this mission. We also intend to make these products and research available to everyone through permissive open-source projects. We have an exciting new open-source project coming up early next month.”

It is a known fact that Generative AI has been making significant technological advancements of late. However, it remains very costly for companies to adopt. Only large companies are currently able to adopt and experiment with Generative AI. In addition, there is an ongoing scarcity of GPUs, which further limits accessibility. Only large companies are currently able to adopt and experiment with Generative AI. For those that do, projects often get stuck at the minimum viable product (MVP) stage and rarely progress to full production deployment.  It is in this context that Bud Runtime proves itself beneficial for enterprises, as they look to usher in cost-effectiveness in the adoption of Gen AI. 

Titan Company Ltd. Inaugurates Titan Vanam, Plants 2 lakh+ Saplings, Aims For 800 Tonnes Of CO2 Sequestration Annually Over 20 Years

* Unveils Titan Vanam at Thorapalli, Hosur in accordance with Earth Day, hosting 120+ native species, revives 45 acres of Degraded Tropical Thorn Forest 

Titan Company Ltd. inaugurated Titan Vanam, a cohesive afforestation initiative at Thorapalli in Hosur, Tamil Nadu; which has already transformed 45 acres of degraded grazing porambokku land into a budding forest with close to 120+ native species. Vanam, reflecting Titan’s sustained efforts towards improving green cover, was unveiled in the presence of Mr. C K Venkataraman, Managing Director - Titan, Mr. N E Sridhar, Chief Sustainability Officer – Titan, Tmt. V R Latha, Principal District & Sessions Judge, Krishnagiri, Mr. Dinesh Kumar, Collector, Krishnagiri District, Ms. R A Priyanga, Sub-Collector – Krishnagiri and Mr. Yashwant Ambulkar, Asst. Conservator of Forest - Tamil Nadu. The opening was also graced by representatives from Biotasoil Foundation, Medius Earth, local industry associations and community leaders.

Initiated in December 2024, the project began with immediate planting under the technical guidance of Medius Earth and the on-ground expertise of Biotasoil Foundation. To date, more than 208,000 saplings have been planted across two restoration sites at Thorapalli (33 acres) and Billanakuppam (12.5 acres). Baseline ecological surveys conducted identified 241 existing plant species, while targeted invasive species management has paved the way for healthy native growth in the region. This restoration was further supported by organic soil amendments, beneficial microbes, and carefully designed bio-fencing. With planting densities approaching 4000+ saplings per acre, Titan Vanam has the potential to emerge as India’s largest high-density polyculture afforestation project- sequestering an estimated 800 tonnes of CO? equivalent annually.

Beyond its carbon?neutrality objectives, Titan Vanam is engineered to recharge groundwater, reduce soil erosion, enhance air quality and restore the region’s historic elephant corridor ecosystem.

Sharing his views, Mr. C K Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Limited, said, “Vanam is more than a plantation project—it’s a living blueprint for how industry can drive large?scale ecosystem restoration. By integrating cutting?edge science and sustained stewardship over 45 acres, we’re not just planting trees; we’re cultivating a carbon?neutral future and a self?sustaining forest that will thrive for generations.”

The unveiling at Thorapalli featured the ceremonial planting of 30 saplings by the Collector, Titan leaders, and local representatives. The event also included the unveiling of Titan Vanam’s signboard and species list, along with a technical briefing on soil and water management, invasive species control, and long-term monitoring. Titan has committed to caring for Vanam for the next three years, installing bio-fences, and conducting quarterly growth checks to ensure that the forest thrives. About 10–15% of the area is set aside for endangered and protected species such as Acacia catechu, Tricalysia sphaerocarpa, and Suregada angustifolia, as well as rare plants like Gloriosa superba (Tamil Nadu’s state flower), Ceropegia juncea, and Celastrus paniculatus

Mr. N E Sridhar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Titan Company Limited, emphasized on the program's impact, stating, "From barren Porambokku lands to a biodiverse tropical thorn forest, Titan Vanam exemplifies our long?term vision for climate resilience. Over the next three years, we will rigorously monitor growth, expand community engagement and refine our species mix, scaling this model to other regions where environmental and social imperatives align."

Sharing his views, Mr. Dinesh Kumar, IAS, Collector, Krishnagiri District said, “This plantation of over 2 lakh trees is a shining example of what meaningful public-private partnerships can accomplish. I sincerely thank Titan Company for their commitment to sustainability and commend Biota Soil Foundation for their knowledge, passion, and scientific approach in restoring this landscape with diverse native species. Let this initiative stand as a model, encouraging us to identify and rejuvenate more such barren lands across Hosur and Krishnagiri district.”

Looking ahead, Titan Vanam will set an iconic example of corporate-led afforestation through data-driven management, annual scientific reviews, and community involvement. Titan Company Ltd. invites stakeholders, researchers, and local residents to join in nurturing this living laboratory for a greener, climate-resilient future.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reaffirms Long-Term Commitment To Road Safety Across India

In alignment with its vision of building a safer and more responsible mobility ecosystem, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) reiterates its long-standing commitment to advancing road safety through structured initiatives across the country. TKM’s efforts span awareness, education, and innovation, positively impacting over 10 lakh individuals through its comprehensive road safety programs.

At the heart of Toyota’s safety commitment is the Toyota Safety Education Program (TSEP), a flagship initiative launched in 2007 to nurture road safety awareness and behavioural change among school children from 5th to 9th standard in government and private schools. Under the theme “Road Safety – My Right, My Responsibility,” the initiative empowers young minds through a proven ABC approach—Awareness, Behavioural Change, and Campaigns. Using engaging formats such as skits, poster-making, and Road Safety Clubs, awareness levels among participants have increased significantly, underscoring the program’s effectiveness in instilling critical road safety knowledge.

To date, TSEP has reached 9,29,288 students, supported by 1643 trained educators across 140 schools since FY23. It follows a sustained three-year intervention model:

Phase 1: Implemented in Bangalore during FY 2023–24, with the final leg concluding in FY 2025–26.

Phase 2: Currently ongoing across Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai in FY 2024–25.

Notably, the program adopts a child-to-community model, wherein each participating student becomes a road safety ambassador—spreading knowledge and safe practices within their homes, neighbourhoods, and peer groups. This ripple effect is instrumental in transforming community-level attitudes toward responsible road usage. The program’s momentum is maintained through annual engagements across Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, with continued integration into school curricula for long-term behavioural impact, supported by active involvement from teachers and schools.

Complementing TSEP is the Toyota Hackathon, a youth-led innovation platform that nurtures creative thinking and solution-building among school students from 7th to 12th grade. Designed to solve real-world road safety challenges, this initiative has reached 77,200 students across regions. Conducted in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, the hackathon has generated over 350 innovative concepts covering school zone safety, IoT integration, inclusive infrastructure, and traffic flow management. Participants go through a five-phase journey—from ideation to incubation—with expert mentorship and continued engagement to develop implementable prototypes. The initiative aims to equip students not just as problem solvers but as "Change Agents" influencing broader societal behaviours and policy thinking.

To further amplify enforcement and community education, TKM has supported the setup of seven Traffic Parks across regions, creating simulated environments where school children can learn road safety rules and pedestrian behaviour in a practical and engaging manner.

Recognizing the critical role of commercial drivers, TKM’s Road Safety and Health Initiative in Mizoram has benefitted 800 drivers through structured awareness and health check-up drives, conducted in collaboration with local enforcement and medical teams. These sessions cover road discipline, vehicle maintenance, and mental well-being. Cumulatively, the program has benefitted 7,822 individuals.

To strengthen traffic monitoring infrastructure, 34 Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and 20 CCTV cameras have been installed at key junctions across Mizoram, contributing to a reduction in violations and encouraging compliance. These interventions now benefit over 4 lakh road users.

Speaking on the company’s continued efforts, Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President - Corporate Affairs and Governance, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, road safety is a fundamental commitment deeply embedded in our vision of responsible mobility. Through structured educational programs, targeted innovation, and meaningful community collaboration, we strive to instill a culture of safety across diverse road users—from school children and youth innovators to drivers.  Our holistic approach is designed to drive lasting behavioral change with measurable impact. With every step, we are working towards our vision of zero road fatalities in India.”

Toyota’s road safety initiatives are anchored in its global 3-pillar approach—people, vehicles, and traffic environment—supported by a legacy of programs dating back to the 1960s. With a focus on sustained impact and collaboration, Toyota Kirloskar Motor remains committed to building a safer, smarter, and more responsible mobility future for every road user in India.