From tackling everyday challenges to addressing the world's most pressing issues, the James Dyson Award encourages creative and practical solutions with global impact.
The James Dyson Award has officially opened for submissions today. The 2025 programme spans 28 countries and regions, inviting current or recent students to submit their innovative problem-solving ideas aimed at making a real-world difference. From tackling everyday challenges to addressing the world's most pressing issues, the award encourages creative and practical solutions with global impact.
Legacy of Innovation: Supporting Over 400 Student Inventions
Since its inception in 2005, the James Dyson Award has supported over 400 student inventions, with £1 million (approx. ₹112 million) in prize money and international exposure. The award highlights the importance of design, engineering, and technology in addressing societal needs, providing a global platform for young inventors. Winners of the competition are given not only a cash prize of £30,000 (approx. ₹30 lakhs) but also the opportunity to gain valuable media exposure, which can help commercialize their innovations.
James Dyson, the founder of Dyson, expressed his enthusiasm for the competition, saying: “I started the James Dyson Award 20 years ago with the mission to inspire and support the next generation of design engineers. The brilliant ideas we’ve seen since then prove that young people are passionate about providing solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, using design, engineering, and technology.”
Notable Previous Winners: Showcase of Creative Solutions
Past winners of the James Dyson Award have demonstrated how young innovators can address global challenges with practical, impactful inventions.
- Novocarry (India, 2024): Invented by Komal Panda, this portable cooling carrier ensures medications, such as insulin, are kept at the correct temperature. Novocarry has bridged gaps in accessibility, ensuring vital medication storage in diverse environments.
- mOm Incubators (UK): Designed by James Roberts, mOm is a low-cost, inflatable incubator for newborns, particularly in underdeveloped areas. It has now supported over 10,000 patients and is expanding globally, including in conflict zones like Ukraine.
- SoaPen (US): Invented by Shubham Issar and Amanat Anand, SoaPen is a colorful soap pen designed to teach children hand hygiene through fun. It has gone on to become a commercial success, helping educate children on handwashing in an enjoyable way.
Submission Deadline and Judging Process
The deadline for submitting entries for the 2025 James Dyson Award is July 16, 2025. Entries will be evaluated by national judging panels comprising experts from design and engineering fields. Shortlisted entries will be assessed on functionality, design process, differentiation, and commercial viability. National winners, each receiving a £5,000 prize (approx. ₹5 lakhs), will be announced on September 10, 2025, followed by the announcement of the Global Top 20 Shortlist on October 15, 2025. The final global winners, chosen by Sir James Dyson, will be revealed on November 5, 2025.
Commitment to Engineering and Social Impact
The James Dyson Award is part of Sir James Dyson’s broader commitment to highlighting the power of engineering to solve critical global issues. Run by the James Dyson Foundation, a charity focused on inspiring the next generation of engineers, the award aims to support young inventors and provide them with a platform to address significant global challenges.
Since its inception, the award has continued to inspire innovation in a range of fields, from healthcare to sustainability. Sir James Dyson noted, “I look forward to discovering what inventions will be put forward this year – good luck!”
How to Participate?
The competition’s premise is simple: design something that solves a problem. This can be a common challenge or a significant global issue. Participants retain full ownership of their intellectual property, offering a rare opportunity for students to showcase their work without concerns about IP rights.
The competition’s process is structured as follows:
- National judging: A panel of experts and Dyson engineers selects the winners in each participating country.
- International Shortlist: The top 20 entries are selected for the global shortlist by Dyson engineers.
- Global Winners: The final selection is made by Sir James Dyson, with the global winners receiving the coveted £30,000 prize.
Previous Global Winners
Some of the recent global winners have made a substantial impact in their respective fields:
- 2024 Medical Winner – Athena: A portable and affordable hair-loss prevention device for chemotherapy patients.
- 2024 Sustainability Winner – airXeed Radiosonde: A reusable, nature-inspired sensor for improved weather forecasting and tackling e-waste.
- 2023 India Winner – Mouseware: A head movement-based computer mouse for people with upper-limb disabilities.
- 2023 International Winner – The Golden Capsule: A hands-free IV device for disaster zones.
- 2022 Sustainability Winner – Polyformer: A machine that recycles plastic bottles into 3D printer filament for developing nations.
A Future of Innovation
The James Dyson Award continues to serve as a catalyst for change, empowering young people to tackle real-world problems with innovative, sustainable solutions. By fostering creativity and encouraging the pursuit of practical, life-improving inventions, the award paves the way for the next generation of design engineers.
Read More:
Follow Shiksha.com for latest education news in detail on Exam Results, Dates, Admit Cards, & Schedules, Colleges & Universities news related to Admissions & Courses, Board exams, Scholarships, Careers, Education Events, New education policies & Regulations.
To get in touch with Shiksha news team, please write to us at news@shiksha.com