Sivani K, a second-year B.Sc. student of Queen Mary’s College, and Santhosh Kumar S, a first-year M.Sc. student from University of Madras have been recognised among the top performers nationally in Samsung Innovation Campus 2025, a technology skilling programme that trains young people in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Coding and Big Data.
Selected from more than 20,000 participants across the country, the duo is among the four national toppers recognised this year.
As part of the course, Sivani developed an IoT-enabled Smart Traffic Management System aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion in urban areas. The project explores how connected technologies can help cities manage growing mobility challenges more efficiently.
Similarly, Santhosh created an AI-powered pest detection and control model designed to help farmers identify crop threats at an early stage. The solution seeks to support timely intervention and improve agricultural productivity through technology.
“Through the Smart Traffic System project, I realised how technology can be applied to solve problems that affect everyday life. The experience gave me confidence that students can build solutions with real social impact,” Sivani said.
“I believe I am standing here today because I did not give up when things were challenging. As a girl, I had never travelled far from my hometown on my own. Yet today, I am here in Delhi, the capital of India, standing at Samsung’s headquarters. It is a proud and privileged moment for me,” she said.
Santhosh said the programme helped him gain practical exposure to Artificial Intelligence beyond classroom learning. “Working on an AI-powered pest detection model showed me how technology can support farmers and address real-world challenges. It strengthened both my technical skills and confidence,” he said.
The two students were felicitated at Samsung India’s headquarters in Gurugram by Mr. JB Park, President & CEO, Samsung Southwest Asia on June 4. They also had the opportunity to explore Samsung’s innovation ecosystem through visits to Samsung R&D Institute, Noida, Samsung R&D Institute Delhi and Samsung Design Delhi where they interacted with technology leaders and gained insights into Samsung’s design philosophy, user-centric innovation processes, and next-generation product development.
