Samsung & Startup India Unite to Ignite Innovation Across Bharat
- Samsung and Startup India sign MoU to support young innovators, especially from Tier 2 & 3 cities.
- Provides funding, mentorship, and incubation to scale real-world tech solutions by students.
- 2025 edition reaches remote districts, aligning with Digital India, Skill India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat missions.
Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Startup India, a flagship initiative of the Government of India, to boost grassroots innovation and nurture young entrepreneurial talent across the country. The collaboration, unveiled in New Delhi, is aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem through Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow programme, especially focusing on students from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
This public-private partnership integrates Samsung’s flagship innovation contest with Startup India’s expansive support network comprising incubators, accelerators, mentorship platforms, and funding opportunities. The alliance is designed to help young problem solvers access the tools, infrastructure, and guidance they need to transform ideas into scalable solutions.
“At Samsung, we believe innovation thrives when young minds are empowered with the right platforms and support systems”, said SP Chun, Corporate Vice President, Samsung Southwest Asia. “This partnership with Startup India is aligned with the vision of Skill India and Digital India and will enable us to reach young innovators in remote corners of the country. Our aim is to nurture a new generation of changemakers who will become the problem solvers of tomorrow”.
Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), also emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative: “Innovation is central to India’s growth story. This collaboration strengthens our commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-led ecosystem. It will encourage youth from smaller towns and cities to ideate, innovate, and contribute meaningfully to the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision”.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a global innovation and education initiative that encourages students to identify real-world problems in their communities and build solutions using design thinking, technology, and entrepreneurial skills. First launched in the US in 2010, the programme is now operational in 68 countries, having engaged over 3 million youth globally.
In India, the initiative offers hands-on learning experiences, prototype development support, mentorship, and opportunities to pitch ideas to experts and investors. The 2025 edition of the programme is offering substantial financial backing, with the top four winning teams receiving an incubation grant of INR 1 crore. Additionally, the Top 20 teams will be awarded INR 20 lakh each, while the Top 40 teams will receive INR 8 lakh each.
This year’s programme focused on four key innovation themes:
- AI for a Safer, Smarter, and Inclusive Bharat
- Future of Health, Hygiene, and Well-being
- Social Change through Sports and Tech for Education
- Environmental Sustainability via Technology
The initiative has gone hyperlocal in 2025, identifying bright young minds from remote districts such as Samastipur (Bihar), Guntur (Andhra Pradesh), Baramulla (Jammu & Kashmir), and Cachar (Assam). This wide geographic reach reflects not just the inclusive nature of the programme but also the depth and diversity of ideas being submitted.
Under the new partnership, Startup India will leverage its robust national ecosystem to support these innovators through structured incubation and market linkages, while Samsung will drive on-ground engagement through workshops, mentorship, and innovation challenges.
By combining Samsung’s technological expertise with Startup India’s policy and mentorship framework, the initiative aims to place innovation at the heart of India’s education and entrepreneurship ecosystems. This integrated model promotes creativity, inclusion, and impact, while fostering the spirit of Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India.
The collaboration between Samsung and Startup India is more than just a funding opportunity it is a nationwide movement to democratize access to innovation. As India moves toward a tech-driven future, empowering the youth from all corners of the country will be key to unlocking the nation’s full entrepreneurial potential.
