Edgefield Secondary Shines as Team BuddyBot Wins Top Prize at Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025

A duo from Edgefield Secondary School has emerged as the overall champion of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2025 competition, clinching the top honour with an innovative creation designed to empower youths with Down Syndrome. Held annually to inspire young minds to tackle real-world challenges through technology, this year’s competition saw 90 secondary school teams across Singapore pitch ideas that drive meaningful change.

Champion: Team BuddyBot – A Smart Assistant for Independent Living

Bella Teo and Shannon Ong of Team BuddyBot impressed judges with their smart assistant aimed at helping young individuals with Down Syndrome build independence in daily routines, easing the load on caregivers. Their winning solution features a compact portable device paired with a caregiver mobile app, enabling tasks like teeth-brushing and getting dressed to be broken down into simple, guided steps with visual and voice prompts.

Powered by AI, BuddyBot also analyses user behaviour to identify challenges such as skipped steps or prolonged task times. The system then provides personalised recommendations and timely reminders to enhance independence over time.

As the overall champions, the team won $7,000 in cash, $10,000 worth of Samsung products, and a fully sponsored learning trip to Samsung headquarters in South Korea this December.

2nd Place: Cedar Girls’ Secondary Promotes Digital Empathy

Team Through Their Eyes from Cedar Girls’ Secondary School secured second place with an immersive VR-based empathy simulation designed to tackle cyberbullying. Through realistic online scenarios enhanced with visual and audio effects, students experience the impact of negative comments on mental well-being. The platform also incorporates an emotional tracker and teaches coping strategies such as reporting harmful behaviour or seeking support. The solution is intended for use during Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) lessons to foster empathy and responsible digital citizenship among youths.

3rd Place: Pei Hwa Secondary Tackles Heat-Related Challenges

Taking third place, Team Pei Pei Hwa Hwa from Pei Hwa Secondary School developed the Ando Hypohidrosis Vest, designed for individuals with hypohidrosis, those unable to sweat effectively. Aimed at preventing overheating in Singapore’s tropical climate, the vest helps reduce heat-related risks and enables greater comfort and confidence for users to stay active outdoors.

People’s Choice Award: Smart Cane for the Visually Impaired

Voted as the public favourite, Team Smart Cane, a cross-school collaboration between Nanyang Girls’ High School, Chung Cheng High School (Main), Springfield Secondary School and the School of Science and Technology, won the People’s Choice Award. Their solution transforms a traditional walking cane into a smart mobility aid, equipped with sensors to detect obstacles, monitor user movement, and send emergency alerts to caregivers via a connected app. The device aims to enhance safety, accessibility and independence for the visually impaired at an affordable cost.

Inspiring Youth to Shape a Better Tomorrow

Now in its ninth year, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow continues to nurture young innovators who use creativity and tech for social good. This year’s competition invited solutions aligned to four national themes:

• Environmental Sustainability
• Sport, Health & Technology
• Inclusivity & Social Harmony
• Digital Readiness & Security

Drawing inspiration from Samsung’s legacy of innovation, participants explored how technology can impact lives and create a secure, inclusive future for Singapore beyond SG60.