Samsung launches its $9 million incentive initiative to support Tizen's expansion of its mobile application ecosystem in different aspects, particularly in categories of social networking, gaming, and lifestyle, among others.

Named as Tizen Mobile App Incentive Program, the initiative serves as a promotional activity to encourage developers to create user-oriented apps for Samsung's operating system. The company is offering interested developers a substantial $10,000 prize if their app can edge into the top 100-most downloaded apps on the Tizen store, according to VentureBeat.

On Samsung's official website, VP of Global Product Management, Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics Woncheol Chai has cited his opinion on putting the Tizen franchise into expansion and development.

He says: "As a committed leader of the Tizen platform, we strive to further benefit, expand upon and evolve the Tizen ecosystem." Wonchoel added: "We're excited to launch this new incentive program to help develop and bring the best of mobile apps to the Tizen community as well as provide customers with a better mobile experience."

Following Samsung's announcement, the new program will run from February through October 2017, and developers who create mobile apps for Tizen, such as gaming, social and lifestyle apps, are eligible to apply.

To participate into the program, all developers should register their new or existing apps for participation by visiting incentive.tizenstore.com when the registration kicks off in January 2017. After that, Samsung will gather the top 100 apps that have been downloaded and registered with the program, and grant their creators with a $10,000 bonus, which will be done over the course of 9 months from February through September 2017.

According to Samsung, winners will get notifications every 10th of the following month, which will start on March 10, 2017 and end on Nov. 10, 2017. In addition, it is noted that apps already available in the Tizen store, as well as new apps, can be entered into the program.

The Tizen platform, as an "Android-alternative" open-source, Linux-based operating system (OS), has been a core part of Samsung's smartwatches, TVs, cameras, and powers the company's internet of things (IoT).

The announcement was released at the NASSCOM Game Developers Conference, India's largest confluence of game developers. For more information on the new incentive program, interested developers can visit incentive.tizenstore.com.