The applications for the 2026 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) competition are now open. This unique, global competition is inviting Grade 10 and 11 learners from public schools in South Africa to submit innovative STEM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) solutions that can help tackle community challenges - with entries open until 06 March 2026.

According to Samsung, this is a transformative experience for learners’ personal development and career aspirations – empowering them with critical skills to innovate and solve real-world problems. Launched for the first time in 2023 in South Africa, the SFT competition encourages innovative thinking and problem solving for Gen Z to build sustainable solutions through STEM. This year marks a major shift, with the programme now open to all public schools, including quintile 5 - making it more inclusive and nationally representative.

The SFT competition aims to reduce skills gaps, encourage youth led innovation and show young South Africans that their ideas have value and real-world impact. This global initiative envisions a South Africa where young people are not just job seekers, but solution creators who contribute meaningfully to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

This year’s competition is themed: “Social Change through Sports and Technology” and “Environmental Sustainability via Technology” and aims to foster innovation among high school learners from underprivileged backgrounds throughout South Africa.

This theme encourages young innovators to use digital platforms, data and smart solutions to improve access to sports, develop talent, promote wellness and create safer, more connected communities.

The environmental sustainability through technology theme on the other hand addresses the urgent environmental challenges South Africa faces, such as climate change, water scarcity, waste management and energy access. This theme invites young people to develop tech-driven solutions that protect natural resources, promote renewable energy and support sustainable living. Samsung explained that it signifies a shift toward responsible innovation using technology not just for convenience, but to secure a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come.

 “As Samsung, we are inviting more South African public schools to enter this competition so that their learners can have the exposure and networking opportunities that will help them connect with industry leaders and our Samsung mentors - aiding their transition to tertiary studies. By engaging in this year’s incredible themes; as well as fostering innovation and providing critical skills for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), public school learners who enter the 2026 SFT competition have an opportunity for their lives to be significantly impacted and transformed in more positive ways,” added Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa.

Public schools in the country are encouraged to apply for the 2026 SFT competition and join this year’s challenge that will give them an opportunity to showcase their creativity.

In order to enter the competition, teams must comply with the following entry criteria:

• The candidates of each team must be South African citizens;
• Prior written consent must be obtained by the applicable public school from each candidate’s parent and/or legal guardian for written permission that the candidate may enter and participate in the competition;
• The candidate must be enrolled as a learner at the applicable Public School, as at the date of the commencement of the competition and for its duration;
• Each team may comprise of a maximum of 5 (five) learners from Grade 10 to Grade 11;
• The Public School entering a team into the competition may only enter one team.

This year’s participants will be tasked with addressing pressing community problems using STEM principles, improving their analytical abilities and gaining professional guidance from Samsung employees. Furthermore, school teams that enter this year’s competition stand a chance to win exciting prizes and the recognition as South Africa’s next generation of innovators and problem-solvers. The 1st prize is R100K worth of STEM equipment for their school, with 2nd and 3rd prizes winning R50K and R30K respectively. The prizes also include Samsung devices for the learners on the top three teams - to help them develop their STEM-based, tech-for-good projects even further.

“Even though there’s ultimately three winners of the competition; the previous participating learners have also learnt something fundamental - that this SFT competition is less about winning and more about the journey of learning and personal growth. We are happy to see that some of the former participants and winners of this SFT competition have transitioned into tertiary education, often pursuing degrees that align with the STEM skills they developed during the programme,” elaborated Makgato.

Aligning Priorities

According to Samsung, the SFT competition aligns closely with the Department of Basic Education’s priorities and transformation goals of South Africa, especially those that focus on improving STEM learning, critical thinking and equitable access to opportunities. First, at the heart of South Africa’s education policy is the goal of strengthening science, technology, engineering and mathematics education because these subjects are essential for the current jobs market. The SFT competition does exactly that: it gives learners practical, hands-on STEM experience. This directly supports the national education priority of building stronger STEM capacity in schools.

“The Department of Basic Education welcomes the continued expansion of the Samsung SFT programme as a strategic STEM enrichment platform that advances curriculum relevance, innovation capability and equitable access to opportunity within the public schooling system,’’ commented Acting Director for Communications and Research at the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Terence Khala.

‘’The inclusion of all public schools reflects a shared commitment to broadening high-quality STEM exposure and nurturing a diverse pipeline of future innovators,” Khala concluded.

How to Apply:

Application forms are accessible online. Interested parties can visit https://www.samsung.com/za/solvefortomorrow/ to register your school and submit their team’s proposal.