LIMA, Peru – 2025 – “Innovation is not just about solving problems, it’s also about honoring where we come from and who we care about.” For Fabricio Chimoy Ayala, a 20-year-old biology student from Chiclayo, Peru, a life in the sciences goes beyond knowledge to encompass social responsibility and communication. This motivation has fueled Fabricio to pursue a number of ambitious projects, culminating in becoming the first-ever student to participate in both Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus, Samsung’s two premier student-development programs. But perhaps “culminate” is the wrong word to use when describing Fabricio’s achievements — after all, he is only just getting started.

Fabricio’s journey began in high school, when his curiosity in science class — and, later, real world problems — drove him to question the world and think about how he could improve it. He noticed that underserved areas of Chiclayo were subject to energy deficiencies, and this small spark inspired his project “Alumbra Pomalca,” a 2020 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow finalist that addressed these disparities.

Now, in his fourth year at Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, he has a number of accomplishments under his belt. He’s led PixelSciences, a science outreach initiative that operates as a university-affiliated volunteer program and recently won a FURS 2024 grant, and has represented Peru in APEC PERU Voices of the Future 2024. Other achievements include winning CADE PERU Universitario 2024 and securing a research scholarship from the CNPEM in Brazil, where he collaborated on cellular cryopreservation projects. Most recently, he entered the Samsung Innovation Campus, where he had the opportunity to apply AI and data science to disease diagnostics, treatment design, and epidemiological modeling.

“Completing both Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus has given me not only technical skills and leadership experience, but also a deep sense of purpose. I now see myself not just as a student, but as someone who can bridge science, technology, and empathy to solve real challenges,” said Fabricio Chimoy Ayala about his experiences with Samsung. “I hope my journey encourages others to embrace innovation as a path for positive social impact, just as Samsung has encouraged me.”

Getting Personal Through Solve for Tomorrow

Fabricio Chimoy Ayala’s grandfather spent his life working in the sugarcane fields in Pomalca, Peru. His life and legacy inspired Fabricio’s Alumbra Pomalca project, and after his grandfather passed away, the project became even more meaningful. Fabricio was already motivated to bring science to the broader community, but the personal connection between him and the project gave him a deeper sense of purpose — it reminded him that in addition to solving problems, innovation is about honoring where we come from and who we care about.

Given his long-term goal of leaving a legacy through science communication in Latin America and inspiring young people to make science accessible, relatable, and empowering for all, Fabricio views Samsung Solve for Tomorrow as ideal for developing his skills and helping him achieve his dreams. He credits the program with showing him that innovation is not limited to the lab, explaining that it builds bridges between science and society. This point was made abundantly clear to Fabricio when he and his team created the final project video. The process left a lasting impression on him and crystallized the importance of science communication — that complex ideas can only truly help the broader community as intended if they are made accessible enough to create lasting connections.

Taking Things to the Next Level at Samsung Innovation Campus

Now that Fabricio had set his mind on what he hoped to accomplish in science, he needed to further develop his skills in order to achieve those aims. Samsung Innovation Campus provided him the opportunity to access quality education in AI and data science, which was perfect for helping him acquire the tools necessary to use AI to diagnose diseases, design treatments, and perform epidemiological modeling.

Acquiring these skills has allowed Fabricio to take the next step in his career as a biomedical researcher and infectious disease specialist. For instance, learning Python, AI modeling, and data interpretation has allowed him to understand how AI can be used to predict outbreaks, analyze large scale biological data, and design personalized medical solutions. Fabricio has already been putting these newly acquired skills to use, too. He is looking into ways to integrate AI into research interests so that data-driven approaches can complement traditional experimental biology.

“Already Making History”

Through it all, Fabricio Chimoy Ayala does not see his participation in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus as strictly academic or professional. To him, they represent a fundamental shift in perspective that will elevate him as a scientist who can serve as a leading agent for change in Latin America. He wants to leave a legacy through science communication in the region, and the change he seeks is twofold: he wants to contribute his knowledge to improving public health and disease prevention, and he wants to help shift how science is perceived in Peru to fight misinformation and make science a tool for hope. According to Fabricio, science should be democratized and inclusive, with no student being left behind simply because of where they come from.

And Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow and Samsung Innovation Campus projects are in line with this vision. “What Samsung aims to achieve through these programs is empowering young people to become agents of change in their communities by providing them with access to education, technology, and real-world problem-solving frameworks,” he said. “These programs are not isolated experiences; they are part of a broader vision to build a better tomorrow by investing in talent today.”

In line with the democratized vision he shares with Samsung, Fabricio has a message for other young people in Latin America with big dreams: “Your ideas matter. Your story matters, and your voice has the power to create change. So dream boldly, act with courage, and remember that we are not the future — we are the present that’s already making history.”