Two students from the Department of Materials have won the Samsung 'Solve for Tomorrow' competition 2024.

Samsung's 'Solve for Tomorrow' competition is an initiative for young innovators to submit ideas to solve societal challenges. Participants can use their skills to create innovative projects that can make a positive impact on society. 

This year the competition attracted over 600 applications. Anjali Devadasan and Yu Gu of Treeva were named the winners in the 18-25 competition category. Anjali and Yu, both undergraduate students in the Department of Materials, started Treeva in 2023 to address net-zero challenges. 

Competition process

Treeva was first selected as one of twenty-four teams by a panel of Samsung colleagues and founders from the tech-for-good sector. Over six weeks, they engaged in design thinking, market research, a prototyping workshop and one-on-one mentoring with industry experts.

They then advanced to the finals as one of ten teams, participating in a further three weeks of training on pitching and funding.

Treeva's winning submission is a windmill-style device that generates energy from passing vehicles on roads. This device could provide affordable, reliable power and help create safe net zero transport systems.

The team took home a £10,000 prize pot and three months of Samsung mentoring and support.

Anjali comments: 

"We’re super grateful for the support from the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow team, the Department of Materials and all the mentors and friends who are supporting us on this journey.

This amazing support is helping us turn the idea we had into a reality: to power safe net-zero transport systems."

Find out more about Treeva: https://www.treeva.uk/

Find out more about the Solve for Tomorrow competition: https://www.samsung.com/uk/solvefortomorrow/