Hong Kong – September 4, 2026 – Samsung Electronics H.K. Company, Limited, the world's leading technology company, today announced the official launch of its annual student technology competition, Solve for Tomorrow 2026-2027. Fully supported by the Education Bureau's "Business-School Partnership Programme" of the HKSAR Government, the competition provides students with opportunities to step out of the classroom and explore different local communities. Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the spirit of sport and inclusion championed by the International Olympic Committee, this year’s competition adopts the theme "See the Need. Prompt the Future." The initiative inspires students to observe challenges in daily life, draw innovative inspiration from real-world needs, and design human-centric, practical solutions. By integrating AI tools, design thinking, and STEM knowledge, students will embark on an innovation journey spanning case sharing, proposal submission, workshops, and final showcases.

Beyond acquiring and applying technological knowledge, this year's competition aims to deepen students' understanding of society and expand their learning beyond traditional textbooks through curated workshops. Solve for Tomorrow seeks to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration skills, empowering students to add value to themselves and pave the way for future academic and career pursuits. Highlights include empathy and design thinking workshops led by NGO partners, guiding students to discover genuine community needs through real-life case studies; hands-on mentorship from tech and AI experts on mastering trending AI tools and emerging technologies for rapid prototyping to turn bold concepts into functional real-world solutions; and storytelling, social video production, and pitching workshops delivered by Samsung leaders, industry professionals, and content creation experts to enhance students' public speaking skills and emotional resonance.

“AI technology is reshaping the future at an unprecedented pace. Upholding Samsung’s vision of 'AI for All', we are committed to enhancing everyday life through continuous technological innovation. Through Solve for Tomorrow, our annual youth technology competition, we hope to encourage students to immerse themselves in society, identify authentic community needs, and leverage empathy as design inspiration to develop practical and impactful solutions. We believe the true value of technology lies in improving lives and driving positive social change, with students serving as the core pillar of future innovation. We look forward to witnessing the emergence of tomorrow's leaders equipped with technological knowledge, empathy, and passion," said Ms. Yiyin Zhao, Managing Director of Samsung Electronics H.K. Company, Limited.

 

Three Challenge Themes to Spark Interdisciplinary Innovation

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026-2027 features three categories: Tertiary, Secondary, and Primary. The competition focuses on three challenge themes, allowing students to freely choose the societal need they wish to address and turn their everyday observations into solutions that people truly need through AI and innovation:

1. Inclusive Communities: Empathy is the cornerstone of addressing social challenges. Whether supporting the elderly, promoting school inclusion, assisting ethnic minorities, caring for caregivers, or enabling barrier-free living, these societal issues must first be observed in everyday life to cultivate genuine empathy. Partnering with NGOs for the first time, the competition encourages students to step beyond classrooms, accurately identify community pain points, and leverage innovative technologies to foster intergenerational communication and social inclusion, ultimately building an accessible, supportive, and caring community for all.

2. Sport & Tech: Echoing Samsung’s role as a worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, sports serve as a vital force in fostering physical and mental well-being while uniting communities. This year's competition encourages students to explore health, safety, companionship, and participation, using AI and technology to empower more individuals to engage in sports with greater confidence and peace of mind.

3. Environmental Sustainability: In response to pressing challenges such as climate change, waste reduction, energy saving, and recycling, this theme encourages students to start from a small habit at school or within the community. By utilizing AI and technology to scale up a single green choice into widespread collective action, students will explore green tech solutions that combine environmental benefits with practical viability, contributing to Hong Kong's circular economy and carbon neutrality goals.

 

Learning Through Competition: Streamlined Format to Evolve Concepts into Practical Solutions Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026-2027 has streamlined its competition format into a more structured, comprehensive three-stage framework, ensuring students receive tailored support at every step as they transform initial concepts into practical prototypes:

• Preliminary Round (September to November 2026): Teams only need to formulate and submit a concept proposal to enter the review process, with no physical prototype required. The submission must include a clearly defined target group, observed social pain points, selected challenge theme, preliminary solution, and expected impact. Requiring no physical submission at this stage allows students ample time to refine their designs and prepare the prototypes.

• Semi-final Round (January to March 2027): 36 teams will be shortlisted from the preliminary round. Shortlisted teams will participate in tailored workshops and project clinics covering design thinking, AI applications, prototype development, and storytelling training. Under the guidance of expert mentors, teams will transform concepts into functional prototypes, continuously iterate, and submit a refined proposal.

• Final Round (April 2027): A total of 18 teams will be invited to present their work at the final showcase. Among them, the top 9 Grand Pitch finalists will deliver live presentations to the judging panel, competing for the Champion, 1st Runner-up, and 2nd Runner-up titles in their respective categories.

 

Comprehensive Judging Criteria: Recognizing “See the Need” Across Stages

The judging panel — comprising professionals across diverse industries — will evaluate entries from preliminary to final stages across multiple dimensions to assess how solutions address human needs, iterate continuously, and achieve real-world implementation:

• Preliminary Round: Focuses on Need & Empathy (Is the challenge clear and grounded in the user's experience?), Creativity & Technology (Is the idea original, and is technology used with purpose?), and Potential Impact (Could it make a positive impact to the community?)

• Semi-final Round: Focuses on Prototype & Feasibility (How complete is the design prototype? Is it technically feasible?), AI & Technology (Are the tools used effectively to solve the problem?), and Learning & Iteration (Has the team tested, learned and improved from the workshop?)

• Final Round: Focuses on Impact (What is the social value of the solution? Can it deliver long-term, scalable positive impact?), Storytelling (Is the idea presented clearly and persuasively?) and Critical Thinking (Can the team respond thoughtfully during the situational challenges?)

 

Gathering All Hong Kong Students: Open for Registration Now

Organized by Samsung Electronics H.K. Company, Limited, co-organized by the Association of I.T. Leaders in Education (AiTLE), and fully supported by the Education Bureau's "Business-School Partnership Programme",  Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2026-2027 is now open for registration until 16 October 2026 (Friday). All eligible primary, secondary, and tertiary students in Hong Kong are welcome to form teams. This year’s competition features Tertiary, Secondary, and Primary categories, each awarding a Champion, 1st Runner-up, 2nd Runner-up, and three Merit Awards, recognizing a total of 18 winning teams. In addition to attractive cash prizes and Samsung tech products, the Tertiary Champion team will receive exclusive internship opportunities at Samsung Hong Kong; the Secondary Champion and 1st Runner-up teams will receive corporate visit opportunities, gaining valuable and practical industry experience.

This year also introduces the Social Impact Storytelling Award, selected by communications and content experts to honor a team that most effectively communicates the human need and potential impact of its solution through video or live presentation, with winner receiving Samsung products. Furthermore, the Sport & Tech Special Recognition will be awarded to outstanding teams in the Sports & Technology theme, offering eligible teams the opportunity to receive a Certificate jointly issued by Samsung and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), enhancing their academic portfolios and overseas study profiles.

For registration and further details, please visit the official website: https://www.samsung.com/hk_en/offer/solvefortomorrow/.

 

 

 

About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is an annual competition that brings together the creativity and passion for new technologies of young people around the world, to solve social problems in local communities. In 2013, Samsung introduced this meaningful event to Hong Kong and inspired tens of thousands of students to come up with innovative solutions that address social issues in Hong Kong. Samsung is promoting the new educational philosophy of STEM. Besides encouraging Hong Kong students to increase their knowledge of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics – Samsung hopes that they can develop empathy and sense of responsibility and apply their STEM knowledge to contribute to the society. Through the competition, Samsung hopes to cultivate thought leaders of tomorrow, equipping them with both technological knowledge and the sense of responsibility of a global citizen.

To learn more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, please visit: https://www.samsung.com/hk_en/offer/solvefortomorrow/.