Samsung reveals grand winners of Solve for Tomorrow 2024

PHOTO: The top 10 teams from diverse corners of the Philippines come together to celebrate Solve for Tomorrow’s 2nd year in the Philippines, a program that aims to empower the country’s next-gen heroes by encouraging innovation in STEM.

Almost 1,000 STEM students from public science high schools took on the challenge to propose solutions to local community challenges using technology and AI.

Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) has revealed the winners of its second Solve for Tomorrow competition, a global initiative designed to inspire young innovators to develop solutions for societal issues and become drivers of positive change in their communities. 

In its sophomore year, Solve for Tomorrow received almost 300 entries from teams across the country composed of Grades 8-10 students of government-managed Science High Schools, which were narrowed down to 10 finalists. This year’s competition focuses on empowering students as the next generation of heroes, using technology to shape a better future.

After a round of mentoring from Samsung Philippines representatives, the top 10 teams presented their expanded proposals to an esteemed panel of judges, composed of Yna Quimson, Corporate Marketing Head of SEPCO; Jay Arguson, Head of Product Engineering and Technical Compliance of SEPCO; Monchito Ibrahim, Vice President of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines and Member of the National Innovation Council; Rachelle Perez, Campus Program Lead of DEVCON Philippines; and Alwyn Rocel, Deputy Director of IdeaSpace Foundation.

Present during the awarding ceremony in New World Makat Hotel was SEPCO President Min Su Chu, Chief Financial Officer Taekyun Kim, Department of Education Assistant Secretary Georgina H. Yang and  Embassy of South Korea Counselor Kwon Soon Hyun. 

It was a close battle among the finalists, but three teams rose above the rest with their design solution’s innovativeness, creativity, and potential to create a positive and sustainable impact. 

Championing Next Gen Heroes

This year’s Grand Prize winner hails from Lipa City Science Integrated National High School with members Celine Hariette A. Almarez, Margaret S. Bautista, and Marcus Miguel Q. Mojares and their adviser, Francis Darril A. Albo. Their entry, “Hi-LoWall: A Solar-Powered Rice Husk Fog Wall Utilizing Evaporative Cooling,” presents a water-efficient solution using rice husk biochar fog walls to combat rising heat indices caused by El Niño, which disrupts public schools through class suspensions, schedule changes, and altered learning modalities.

They will receive PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teachers.

The second prize winners are from Philippine Science High School-Main Campus with members Chael Matthew Sze, Alden Julian Gonzales, and Janine Yrah Tolentino, with their adviser, Book Kristoffer Lauw. Their entry, “Croprotech,” aims to boost crop production and revenue for Philippine farmers through a network of modules that prevent soil degradation and enhance land quality control.

They will receive PHP 320,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 70,000 for team members, PHP 15,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

The third prize winners were from Calamba City Science Integrated School with members “Ysabella Genesis Maderazo, Danise Ann Mariele S. Casilao, Frances Kylie A. Montano, and Wesley Aviv M. Macatangay, with their adviser, Marinel A. Degoma. Their entry, “SIMS: A Smart Infrastructure Monitoring System,” uses sound and thermal sensors to analyze structural integrity, enhancing public safety, reducing maintenance costs, and helping communities better withstand natural disasters.

They will receive PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teachers.

The other seven teams to make it to the finals and will receive Php 15,000 for their team and Php 5,000 for their teacher include “PAROLA: Utilizing Rain and Floodwater to generate Hydroelectric Power for Emergency Lamp Post” from Binan City Science and Technology High School, “BLOOM: Bio-flocculant Linked Oceanic Observation and Management Vessel for Algal Blooms” from Cavite Science Integrated School, “BEYONSEE: Multi-Purpose Smart Assistive Glasses and White Cane” from Makati Science High School, “sUN-Block: Solar-Powered Conveyor Belt System for Drainage Management” from Philippine Science High School – Central Luzon campus, “Development of a Bamboo and Coconut Coir-Based Oil and Microplastics Filtration System for River Water Quality Improvement” from Philippine Science High School – Ilocos Region campus, “CocoSorb – An Automated, Eco-Friendly Oil Absorption Device” from Philippine Science High School – Ilocos Region campus, and “ReLeaf: An AI and Machine Learning GIS-Based powered technology for Sustainable Smart Reforestation via an App Interface” from Valenzuela City of School of Mathematics and Science.

Transformative Ideas: Creating Better Solutions

Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow aims to provide opportunities for top students to transform emerging ideas into actions and unlock their full potential as future leaders for a better future. Solve for Tomorrow has successfully helped over 2 million people and has reached beyond the boundaries of 50 other countries, including the Philippines, as the latest addition this 2023. 

This year, the competition was launched with the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Science High School System (PSHS). Solve for Tomorrow is part of Samsung’s CSR vision of Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People. Its mission is simple: to empower and support the next generation to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes. 

Min Su Chu, President of SEPCO said: “At Samsung, it is our long-held belief that our company thrives when our employees, partners, and communities thrive. We are committed to empowering communities – now, and for the future. Solve for Tomorrow is a testament to this, which manifests our global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.’ It is our goal to always find opportunities to support providing education for future generations, and we want to empower future innovators to achieve their full potential.”

For more information on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program in the Philippines, you can visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow/. To explore more on Samsung’s technology, please visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/.