Samsung and South Africa’s National Department of Basic Education announced three public schools as winners of the 2026 Solve for Tomorrow STEM competition, awarding prizes and Samsung devices to support STEM education.
Samsung South Africa, in partnership with the National Department of Basic Education (DBE), announced the winners of the 2026 Solve for Tomorrow science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) competition at an awards ceremony in Centurion on 02 October 2026.
Three public schools were recognized for their innovative projects addressing environmental and social challenges, with cash prizes and technology grants aimed at boosting STEM learning in their communities.
Winners and Their Projects
The first-place winner, Cape Recife High School from the Eastern Cape, received R100,000 for a prototype that converts plastic waste into sports equipment. Mbilwi Secondary School in Limpopo won R50,000 for a project transforming pollution and waste into low-cost construction materials to tackle overcrowding. Sekete IV Secondary School in the North West took third place with R30,000 for a solution addressing food insecurity through urban agriculture.
Each winning team also received a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, while the cash prizes were designated for purchasing STEM equipment. The competition’s themes—Environmental Sustainability through Technology and Social Inclusion through Sports & Technology—guided the projects, which were evaluated by a panel of experts.
Assessing Partnership Impact
The competition was described as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between Samsung and the DBE, with a press release stating that teams developed prototypes using seed funding, Samsung tablets for research, and mentorship from Samsung employee volunteers. The initiative also aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), specifically Goal 4 (Quality Education), and supported South Africa’s National Development Plan (Vision 2030).
Competition Structure and Expansion
The initiative was also part of Samsung’s broader collaboration with MIT Solve, which provided a research-backed platform for student projects.
In addition to the South African competition, Samsung’s 17th annual Solve for Tomorrow program expanded to the United States, targeting public middle and high school students in grades 6-12. The U.S. competition, powered by MIT Solve, offered up to $50,000 in Samsung technology and resources, including the new AI Impact Award for projects demonstrating ethical innovation in artificial intelligence.
Setting Future Goals
President and CEO of Samsung Africa Simon Lee emphasized the role of education in empowering youth, stating, The future of Africa lies in the hands of its young innovators.
Lee also reiterated Samsung’s commitment to equipping students with skills for a sustainable digital future.
Samsung South Africa’s CSR manager, Lefa Makgato, stated, Congratulations to all our participants. As Samsung, we strongly believe that education is the foundation that allows youth to realise their full potential.
The company’s initiative underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in addressing societal challenges, with the DBE and Samsung collaborating to inspire more students to engage in STEM fields.
The event highlighted the growing role of youth-driven innovation in fostering sustainable development. With the competition’s success, Samsung and the DBE aim to expand access to STEM education, using mentorship, technology, and community-driven solutions to empower future generations.