Samsung Electronics, worldwide mobile and computing equipment partner of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), selects 10 global Solve for Tomorrow Ambassador teams to advance its corporate citizenship efforts. The announcement occurs in Milan alongside the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. This three-day program, running February 8–10, features an appointment ceremony, solution exhibition, and networking events.
Solve for Tomorrow Program Details
Solve for Tomorrow empowers young innovators to create STEM-based solutions for local and global challenges. This year’s ambassadors emerge from regional competition winners, chosen through joint evaluation by Samsung and the IOC based on innovation, scalability, and social impact. The 10 teams split evenly into Sport & Tech and Accessibility & Environment categories, with five in each.
Each team receives funding and up to two years of Samsung support to develop prototypes into commercial products. Sport & Tech teams gain joint backing from Samsung and the IOC.
Appointment Ceremony Highlights
The ceremony at Samsung House in Milan draws about 80 stakeholders, including IOC President Kirsty Coventry, IOC Executive Board Member and Samsung Global Research President Jae Youl Kim, Olympism 365 Commission Chair Auvita Rapilla, Commission Member Nawal El Moutawakel, and Samsung Electronics Global Marketing President and Head Won-Jin Lee.
Alumni Danielle Yang, a Sport & Tech ambassador with a hearing disability, shares her story: “I joined Solve for Tomorrow to address challenges from my daily life.” She adds, “With support from Samsung Electronics and the IOC, I feel honored to share my idea worldwide, even on the Olympic stage.”
İrem Erden from Türkiye, whose Oilsorb project tackles marine oil spills, states, “Through Solve for Tomorrow, I gained confidence that my idea creates positive societal change. As an ambassador, I aim to inspire future generations.”
IOC President Coventry praises the projects: “They inspire with creativity, imagination, and passion for real impact. You use technology for a more inclusive, sustainable, healthier, and active future. The first Sport & Tech winners blend sport, tech, and problem-solving to change lives.”
Global Marketing Head Won-Jin Lee notes, “Solve for Tomorrow and our IOC collaboration let youth discover strengths, express ideas, and contribute to society. We nurture leaders embodying excellence, respect, friendship, and creativity.”
Sport & Tech Ambassador Teams
- Australia | TeamUp (Ahan Kiani): AI platform connecting people to local sports teams for greater recreational participation.
- Indonesia | Run Sight (Anthony Edbert Feriyanto, Kaindra Rizq Sachio, Muhammed Fazil Tirtana, Ariq Maulana Malki Ibrahim): Wearable AI aiding visually impaired users in running by detecting lanes and obstacles.
- Türkiye | Poseidon (Umut Devrim Deveci, Efe Cem Öztürk): Vibration-alert wristband for visually impaired swimmers approaching boundaries.
- Great Britain | Curastep (Raye Woon, Sarah Smart): Sensor-equipped sneakers detecting early blisters in diabetics to promote safe activity.
- United States | Storm Shield (Danielle Yang, Sara Carmona, Isha Harbaugh, Koel Harbaugh, Audrey Adams, Nikki Beshkar, Emily Wang): Headband protecting hearing aids from moisture and impact during sports.
Accessibility & Environment Ambassador Teams
- China | Furen Makers (Chenyue Wang, Ziyang Ma, Qiuyue Wang, Hewei Wen): Brainwave-controlled wheelchair for ALS patients and those with disabilities in mobility and sports.
- France | Liova (Simon Cénet, Evan Dessables): Kit repurposing discarded smartphone batteries into reusable power banks to cut e-waste.
- India | Paraspeak (Pranet Khetan): Cloud AI converting unclear speech to clear pronunciation in real time for speech-impaired users.
- Türkiye | Oilsorb (İrem Erden, Ece Deniz Sayar, Ela Aksoy, Meryem Melis Çınar): Wool-based, reusable oil-absorbing pads with drones for marine spill response.
- United States | Aqua-Gel (Arya Anilkumar, Anna Huang, Aishwarya Reddy, Subiksha Srinivasan Vidya, Elaine Zuo): AI smart bandage monitoring wounds and detecting infections via sensors.
Upcoming Program Activities
On February 9, teams exhibit solutions at Milan’s Smart City Lab and join an IOC Olympism365 Innovation Hub workshop on sustainable sports innovation. Attendees include IOC representatives, Milano Cortina 2026 organizers, and Italian agencies.
February 10 brings on-site programs, official activities, and a visit to the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Village, enhancing ambassadors’ grasp of sports, technology, and Olympic values.
