Imagine a world where young minds are actively shaping the future through technology. Samsung has just unveiled the winners of its first-ever Solve for Tomorrow European Competition, a program designed to empower the next generation of innovators. This groundbreaking initiative, which took place in Milan, Italy, brought together brilliant young minds from across Europe to tackle pressing global issues. But here's where it gets exciting: five teams emerged victorious, showcasing remarkable ingenuity and a passion for making a difference.
This isn't just a competition; it's a movement. Hosted over three days, the event was packed with workshops, cultural activities, and the sharing of innovative ideas. A total of 60 participants joined the event. The finalists were mentored by experts from Samsung and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), a partnership called 'Together for Tomorrow, Enabling People.' This collaboration aims to use sport and technology to create a positive impact on the world, aligning with the IOC's Olympism365 strategy.
The Winning Teams and Their Revolutionary Ideas:
- Curastep (UK): Developed smart IoT biometric shoes to help diabetes patients stay active.
- Liova (France): Created an eco-designed power bank using components from old devices.
- My Hormone (Hungary): Developed a comprehensive educational resource on female hormonal balance.
- SkillFIT (Germany): Built an AI-powered platform to improve fairness in physical education in schools.
- VisionNex (Czech Republic): Designed affordable smart glasses that translate visual scenes into spoken descriptions for the visually impaired.
Samsung Electronics' Chief Marketing Officer for Europe, Benjamin Braun, and Head of CRM and Media for Italy, Cristina Mangiarotti, shared their expertise with the finalists, providing valuable insights for their future projects. The IOC Young Leaders also played a crucial role, helping students refine their storytelling and pitching skills. The IOC Young Leaders program is one of the IOC’s flagship initiatives designed to empower young people to drive positive change through sport, reflecting IOC’s mission and the Olympism365 framework.
Benjamin Braun, CMO of Samsung Electronics Europe, expressed his excitement, stating that the competition highlights the power of technology to drive positive change and support young innovators. Simon Sung, President and CEO of Samsung Electronics Europe, emphasized his pride in Europe hosting the first regional competition and his passion for supporting the Olympism365 principles.
Ollie Dudfield, Associate Director of Olympism365 at the IOC, congratulated Samsung on the program and the Sport&Tech collaboration, highlighting their shared vision of using sport and innovation to tackle global challenges. He encouraged participants to be proud of their journey, emphasizing the potential to create a healthier, more inclusive, and better-connected world.
What do the winners have to say?
- Curastep: "We can’t wait to see what’s next!"
- Liova: "If you believe in what you do and invest yourself fully, it will come True!"
- My Hormone: "Seeing our ideas come to life and sharing this moment with everyone who believed in us is an incredible feeling".
- SkillFIT: "When students feel seen, they start to believe in themselves and if you really believe in yourself, you can achieve anything."
- VisionNex: "This was an amazing experience. It was great to hear other finalists from all over Europe and we are proud that our idea of AI powered smart glasses for the blind was selected among the 5 winning ideas."
All ten finalists participated in a series of workshops and pitches in Milan, showcasing the incredible talent and dedication of these young innovators.
About Solve for Tomorrow: The Solve for Tomorrow initiative is a testament to Samsung's commitment to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation of leaders. The European competition is a significant milestone in this journey, encouraging young people to develop creative solutions to global challenges using technology.
What are your thoughts? Do you believe that initiatives like Solve for Tomorrow are crucial for inspiring future generations? Share your opinion in the comments below!
