Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Honors 500 Schools in the US

Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow is a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and design thinking competition. The company has announced 500 semi-finalist teams from grades 6 through 12 in the US for its 16th annual competition. The program will award $2 million in prizes to support student innovation.

Students used AI and technology to tackle real-world community problems

The competition promotes students to use technology such as AI and robotics to address real-world issues in their communities. This year, thousands of schools across all 50 states and the District of Columbia applied. However, the 500 semi-finalists stood out for their creative solutions. One hundred teams will advance to the next stage and receive $10,000 in Samsung technology. The remaining 400 teams will receive a $1,000 grant and be recognized as Promising STEM Innovators.

Teams developed AI tools to support elderly populations, designed drones for disaster response, and created Augmented Reality experiences to preserve cultural heritage. Samsung says this year, 83% of 500 projects use emerging technologies. These include 39% using AI or machine learning, 55% using 3D modeling or printing, and 27% using IoT devices. Key focuses include public health and safety (19%), advancing accessibility through STEM (15%), environmental sustainability through technology (11%), and social change driven by sport and technology (4%).

In recent years, AI has become more common in classrooms. As such, K-12 educators are balancing their use with the need to maintain critical thinking skills. Samsung research shows that 81% of teachers worry students may rely too heavily on AI, while 70% see AI as a positive tool if it benefits communities. This year, Samsung partnered with the Mark Cuban Foundation to give teachers and students the tools, training, and resources to use AI responsibly.

In the next phase of the competition, 100 semi-finalist teams will need to create a 3-minute video showcasing their innovation (last date February 11, 2026). From these submissions, judges will select 10 National Finalists to participate in a live pitch event. There will be one award for the Community Choice winner and one for the Employee Choice winner. You can check out detailed information here.