Milan 2026 – All over the world, there are people who dream big. Few can imagine creating solutions that solve real-world problems let alone flying to Italy to be honored for their innovations on the sidelines of the Olympic Games — all while they are still in school. For Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors, however, this is not a dream, but their reality.

These problem-solving journeys culminated in these innovative students being named Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Ambassadors. On Feb. 8, they sat down for a fireside chat with Won-jin Lee, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of the Device eXperience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics at Samsung House in Milan, to discuss the inspiration for their ideas and the passion required to successfully realize their aspirations to bring about meaningful change, while CMO Lee offered his experiential expertise and discussed the importance of new ideas coming from younger generations of innovators.

Arya Anilkumar and her classmates from the United States devised AKQUA-Gel, an AI-powered smart bandage that monitors wound healing in real time and utilizes sensor detection to support early infection detection. Pranet Khetan of India developed Paraspeak, a cloud-based AI solution for people with speech impairments that converts unclear speech into clearly pronounced language in real time. And Raye Woon of Great Britain, with the help of her teammates, produced Curastep, smart sneakers equipped with sensors to detect early signs of blister formation and encourage safe physical activity for people with diabetes.

“Things change and these technologies come because they’re needed. We can use technology to change our lives,” said CMO Lee. “All these ideas are needed, because the world needs them. At the end of the day, we’re all after big ideas.”

What Makes an Idea Big?

During the fireside chat, CMO Lee discussed what constitutes a big idea, and why big ideas are necessary for bringing about positive change in society. “Big ideas are the ideas that impact the most people. The idea is not measured in the quality of the idea itself, but in terms of how we invest or divide our time,” said CMO Lee. “It is also very important to look at a segment of the market or a specific demographic that is not necessarily tied to the commercial side of things.” This way, he added, the idea can address real needs. The participants also shared their thoughts regarding big ideas and what makes an idea worth pursuing. Pranet Khetan, of Paraspeak, spoke of his belief that big ideas that are worth pursuing can be classified into types.

“I think there are two types of big ideas. Firstly, one that can have a small or medium-sized impact on a very large number of people,” said Khetan. “And secondly, one that can have a really large or life-changing impact on a small group of people. So Paraspeak, I’d say, falls in the second category, where we’re giving a voice back to those who can’t communicate.”

Arya Anilkumar, on the other hand, covered how her team’s motivation behind AKQUA-Gel was addressing a need that they identified in their community. For them, that has been something worth pursuing.

“It’s important to connect ideas to create one unified goal. So for AKQUA-Gel’s perspective at least, we wanted to help with the healthcare worker shortage. And so we’ve targeted one specific goal: trying to bring wound infections down,” Anilkumar said. “We knew the ripple effects of a better understanding of what happens in a wound would reduce the amount of time required of medical personnel, leading to more coverage and more time for research.”

The Evolution of an Idea

Since their projects are still in progress, the participants are well-versed in the challenges that arise in product development. They discussed the realities of bringing big ideas to life, with the notion that the initial idea rarely ever resembles the final product underscoring the discussion. Raye Woon quickly encountered this challenge while developing her product.

“We first started off with a shoe and then we were like, ‘Okay, but patients are going to wear the shoe all the time.’ But in reality, they’re not,” Woon said. “A lot of diabetic patients don’t like medical footwear because it’s ugly, really hard to wear, or it limits their mobility. With Curastep, the more we spoke to patients and we actually had the opportunity to speak with a diabetic doctor, the better we were able to advise them to use Curastep.”

The participants found that no matter their idea, they have a lot in common — namely their passion for chasing their dreams to make the world a better place. Additionally, recognition was discussed as one of the key ways to maintain passion, and that is what Samsung provides through its Solve for Tomorrow competitions held globally. Through the program, the company provides a platform for teams like AKQUA-Gel, Paraspeak, and Curastep that have big ideas for making a positive impact on the world, and it gives these innovative students the space to develop and begin to manifest these ideas.

With the students, CMO Lee discussed how a big idea becomes a reality, advising them on how to continue with their projects as they move forward. He said that it’s necessary to move and inspire people, and that in order to do so, leadership is critical. “You should be thinking big, but at the end of the day, you have to be passionate enough to bring your idea to the finish line,” said CMO Lee. “You’re not going to be able to change the world on your own. You need to create a common goal, get people to think like you and listen to your vantage points. This is true across industries, including companies like Samsung.”

As the discussion came to a close, the participants reflected on what success for their projects looks like moving forward. For AKQUA-Gel, it means responsibly scaling solutions that protect water resources. For Paraspeak, it means making accessibility a natural part of everyday communication. For Curastep, it means earning trust by fitting seamlessly into people’s daily lives. And, for Samsung, the truest measure of success for the program is if participants are able to achieve their dreams long after the conclusion of the edition of Solve for Tomorrow that they have participated in.

As such, through its partnership with the International Olympic Committee, Samsung and the IOC will provide financial and technical support including a total investment of USD 200,000 to help 10 Global Ambassadors further develop and implement their solutions. Find out more about Samsung Solve for Tomorrow at a [Link].