Samsung’s two India analysis centres have collectively introduced the launch of the 2026 version of Samsung Cellular Advance, the corporate’s flagship world startup incubation programme.

Samsung R&D Institute Bangalore and Samsung R&D Institute Noida made the announcement collectively, inviting Indian startups to use and collaborate with Samsung on the way forward for cellular know-how.

The programme, which has been working globally as a part of Samsung’s Open Innovation imaginative and prescient, got here to India in 2023.

The chosen startups obtain grant funding of as much as $50,000 to construct a Proof of Idea, and Samsung doesn’t take any fairness or possession in return.

The 2026 version has stored its focus areas broad and inclusive. Samsung is inviting startups working throughout AI, prolonged actuality, safety, well being, digital camera, audio, wearables, and different domains linked to its cellular ecosystem. The thought is to search out startups whose improvements will be built-in into Samsung’s merchandise and platforms, doubtlessly reaching hundreds of thousands of customers worldwide.

Talking concerning the programme, Mohan Rao Goli, Managing Director and CVP at Samsung R&D Institute Bangalore, mentioned, “SMA displays our deep dedication to open innovation, bringing collectively startup ingenuity and Samsung’s world R&D energy to co-create the way forward for cellular experiences. We goal to construct long-term partnerships that not solely speed up innovation but in addition translate daring concepts into impactful options at world scale.”

Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director at Samsung R&D Institute Noida, added, “By SMA, we deal with partnering with startups that display sturdy cultural and technological synergy. We goal to combine the very best of exterior innovation with Samsung’s R&D experience to form the way forward for cellular experiences.”

How the programme works

The programme runs over a number of months and follows a structured analysis course of. Startups have till June 30 to submit an in depth six-month PoC proposal explaining their innovation, its feasibility, and the influence it might create.

Samsung’s knowledgeable panel will evaluate these purposes in July.

Shortlisted startups will then be referred to as for a Pitch Day in September, the place they may current their concepts to a jury of Samsung leaders. Last picks might be introduced after Pitch Day, and the precise incubation begins in October.

The programme concludes with a PoC Demo Day the place startups showcase what they’ve constructed, with potential pathways to commercialisation, additional partnerships, or funding from Samsung.

Indian startups can ship of their purposes to startup.connect@samsung.com.

Past the grant funding with no fairness hooked up, chosen startups additionally get mentorship from Samsung’s world community of consultants, entry to Samsung’s product ecosystem and its distribution attain, and the potential of long-term collaboration and strategic funding from the corporate.

Samsung mentioned it has labored with startups in areas like voice intelligence, 4D modelling, and safety in earlier editions of the programme.