Announcing the 2023 James Dyson Award National Winners
The problems of the future will be solved by today’s bright young engineers and scientists. But they need inspiration and encouragement. Today, 13th September, we announce the national winners of the James Dyson Award, an international design and sustainability competition run by the James Dyson Foundation, that offers budding inventors the chance to make a name for themselves on a global stage.
Open to current students and recent graduates, entrants submit their design or engineering projects to be reviewed by a panel of expert judges from the worlds of academia, medicine and engineering. Each winner takes home a prize fund and will get the chance to earn media exposure that will help kick-start their career and commercialise their invention.
This year, nearly 2,000 young engineers submitted entries to the Award across 30 different countries, each with a unique take on the brief to create a design that solves a problem.
Read on to find out more about how today’s young people hope to use design and engineering to tackle some of today’s thorniest issues, from dangerous forest fires to polluting car emissions to debilitating medical conditions. The Top 20 inventions from this list will progress to the next international stage of the competition, to be announced on 18th October.
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Problem: Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are responsible for over 20% of global emissions, while electric vehicles are expensive investments. Car retrofits for electric drive are not widely available to the public and the present approach of replacing the entire drive train is slow and can cost around $50,000 AUD.
Solution: REVR is a retrofit kit that incorporates all systems required for the conversion of a light ICE vehicle to hybrid electric. REVR could cost as little as $5,000 AUD without rebates and can be installed in under a day.
Runner up: Linko, a recycled masonry construction system
Runner up: A speculative circular economy invention, converting coconut waste into 3D printing filament
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Problem: Colostomy patients face incredibly high costs for medical supplies, particularly in developing countries, with a demand of at least two bags day at 8–12€ each. Those without access use cheap plastic bags stuck to their stomach, which is unhygienic and dangerous.
Solution: os*tomy’s core is a bag made from two main ingredients: agar agar and glycerol. Mixed with water, they form an easy-to-reproduce recipe that moulds into a bag that is watertight, yet naturally biodegradable, held in place with a fabric belt. This cost-effective, sustainable solution gives colostomy patients better access to the care they need.
Runner up: Dog bowls to go, sustainable dog bowls
Runner up: B.Band, a packaging solution for the visually impaired
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Problem: Alzheimer’s disease impairs patient autonomy through memory loss and burdens caregivers with constant assistance, affecting more than 55 million individuals worldwide. There are limitations to existing memory aids such as sticky notes and visual impairments.
Solution: Vocomemo is a wearable voice recorder that responds to Bluetooth tags, which relay messages to the user when nearby, including time-specific appointments and visits. These messages contain more information than a sticky note and also work for users who are visually impaired.
Runner up: Here.o, eating disorder recovery support
Runner up: IDO, a urotherapy solution for children
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Problem: Dry spells in arid parts of the world hinder many smallholder farmers from efficiently cultivating crops year-round. With a limited water supply, the priority for tap water is mainly for drinking and sustaining livestock, leading to agriculture being overlooked.
Solution: DewPointe’s water collection system attracts moisture from the atmosphere, using the hygroscopic properties of charcoal, and turns it into water for crops. It targets the lack of readily available water and helps smallholder farmers to cultivate their crops while keeping costs low.
Runner up: WhaleSafe, a fishing system to protect whales from entanglement
Runner up: Cyclops Ride Assist, a cycle safety system
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Problem: Globally, difficult-to-treat asthma accounts for 17% of all asthma patients, and if medication is effectively controlled, this rate could be reduced to 3.7%. However, inhaled drug usage has high error rate and poor drug compliance, and respiratory attacks are hard to predict.
Solution: Shuimu Breathing is compatible with various inhalers available on the market and guides patients the way patients take the drug in real-time. With a microphone sensing chip integrated at the bottom, it captures the sounds of patients using the medication, records changes in bronchial wheezing during asthma attacks, and converts acoustics signals to airflow stats via algorithms.
Runner up: Mech Circuit, a prototype design and manufacturing platform
Runner up: Portable stroke detector
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Problem: 60% of cyclists don't wear a helmet for one of two reasons: bulk or aesthetics. Yet cycling accidents are commonplace and helmet usage significantly reduces the risk of serious injury.
Solution: Neoca is the first fully foldable cycle helmet, made from recyclable, non-Newtonian thermoformed material, with an interchangeable external design such as a beanie or cap.
Runner up: Loopy, a luggage theft prevention system
Runner up: Ilo, a soft fireless cooker
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Problem: Forests across the globe are threatened, and 80% of forest damage in Germany is caused by the bark beetle. Removing infested or potentially endangered trees is enforced by law, yet these methods are inefficient and harmful. The current use of visual inspections and pheromone traps to detect outbreaks fails to determine them accurately.
Solution: PILUM´s internal sensors analyse pheromones and resin particles in the air that the bark beetle produces in its reproduction cycle. The probes are activated and attached to a tree with a belt, then collected data is immediately published and can be viewed in a public application, enabling more accurate and informed work in the forest.
Runner up: Rainpiper, an autonomous drone swarm that fights forest fires
Runner up: Biocement chair, a chair made from recycled construction materials
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Problem: In Hong Kong, air-conditioning accounts for 31% of total electricity consumption. In addition, over 470,000 glass bottles end up in landfills every day.
Solution: E-COATING is an eco-friendly solution created from waste glass. It can be applied to exterior roofs and walls to reduce the heat absorption of buildings, reducing the amount of electricity consumed on cooling and mitigating the associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Runner up: TENK, an all-terrain wheelchair
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Problem: Individuals with limited mobility often face issues controlling smart devices. Being able to engage with everyday technologies ultimately improves quality of life.
Solution: Mouseware leverages the power of head movements to enable control of smart devices for those with restricted mobility. By combining movement tracking sensors, switches and Speech-to-Text input, it allows individuals to effortlessly interact with digital devices.
Runner up: Hydrogen ethanol fuel powered bike
Runner up: Zero waste toothbrush
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Problem: A closed distraction-free workspace is not always available or accessible to those with ADHD and if it is the person can feel isolated. There are fixed static solutions, such as dividers, but these cannot adapt to different tasks, settings, or moods, while previous attempts at wearable solutions can be segregating and not versatile.
Solution: Oasis uses electrochromic film to dim the user’s mid-to-far peripheral vision and keep their main field of view in focus, reducing distracting visual stimuli. The user can adjust the dimming with the Dimmer Wheel, which adjusts the voltage applied to the electrochromic film, and turn it off with a capacitive touch button to reengage with the environment around them.
Runner up: Ergotech, an ergonomic tool for laparoscopic surgery
Runner up: Zostera, an autonomous drone for mapping sea grass
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Problem: In the coming decades, the number of amputees in the world is expected to grow. Yet currently, a large proportion of prosthesis manufacturing is done by hand. Production time, costs, and repeatability varies depending on different factors, such as stump clinical conditions, the orthopaedic technician's experience, and the customisation requests of the patient.
Solution: D-Pulp offers a way for prosthetics to be created digitally, reducing time and costs. It also promotes the use of recyclable materials, enables a high level of customisation of the cover in polychrome, and mitigates the risk to the operator caused by manual processing.
Runner up: B-Flos, a biometric design to gather rainwater
Runner up: Braille Fly, a mechatronic device to bring Braille signs to public spaces
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Problem: Visually impaired people find it difficult to cross the street, impacting their independence.
Solution: Image recognition in the smart device determines the colour of the traffic signal and transmits it to the user via vibration. The AI-based solution means visually impaired people can cross pedestrian crossings without acoustic signals.
Runner up: Self-propelled blade inspection climber to inspect offshore wind turbines
Runner up: Cariri, a tool to support people with Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Problem: The increase in electric car fires and the difficulty of extinguishing them is emerging as a global problem. The fire inside a battery takes seven hours and 5000 litres of water from two fire trucks to be extinguished, because it is difficult to insert water inside the battery pack, which is sealed with metal.
Solution: Seesaw uses a seesaw lever to help firefighters quickly, safely and easily extinguish the fire in a battery pack. According to fire researchers, battery fire temperatures that rose to 1,000℃ at peak dropped to 90℃ when injecting water directly into the battery pack.
Runner up: The golden capsule, an IV device designed for disaster zones
Runner up: E-co, a plastic straw-free carton
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Problem: Children lack knowledge on the proper way to wash their hands, which came to light as an issue due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This leads to the spread of infectious diseases among children, caused by bacteria from dirty hands.
Solution: Soapy is an educational toy that is designed to educate children on how to wash their hands properly.
Runner up: BraillePad, an iPad for the visually impaired
Runner up: Design for nomadic seafaring life, a lighting device that generates electricity from waves
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Problem: Cysticercosis is a deadly disease caused by consuming the eggs of the taenia-solium parasite, caused by not having access to suitable hygiene measures. More than 50,000 people lose their lives annually because of this disease.
Solution: LEKA is an effective, biodegradable and non-invasive copro-antigen test that helps detect the cysticercosis parasite.
Runner up: Foodrop, a fruit and vegetable dehydrator to allow storage in times of scarcity
Runner up: Hive Station, a modular transportation station
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Problem: Currently, 150 million autoinjectors are incinerated every year, releasing 120,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions. Many people rely on self-injection for chronic disease treatment.
Solution: The YpsoMateRefill offers a unique approach to self-injection. Instead of discarding the autoinjector after use, patients can return it to a Refill Hub through their pharmacy or post, lowering CO2 emissions by 60%.
Runner up: HOPE organ transport device
Runner up: Flame Away, a decorative fire extinguisher tool
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Problem: Athlete drug testing is currently a very unpleasant experience. Thousands of athletes, including school-aged and athletes with disabilities, go through a stressful, uncomfortable, and sometimes traumatic experience every year.
Solution: Pre-Podium's athlete-centric approach sets it apart from current anti-doping kits, improving hygiene, ease of use and total test time, as well as reducing the risk of sample contamination during distribution. It also uses fewer and lower-footprint parts and materials than the main kit on the market.
Runner up: Pull dry, a non-electric clothes washing and drying solution
Runner up: OSBI, an open-sourced brain-computer interface
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Problem: 12 million+ students do not have access to laboratories. When the pandemic hit, it was difficult for students and teachers to learn and teach biology and life sciences because school labs were closed.
Solution: The make-roscope is an affordable and portable keychain that turns your smartphone or tablet into a microscope. It uses a special lens to make things look up to 125 times bigger.
Runner up: AI-assisted Functional Electrical Stimulation Device, for paralysis rehabilitation
Runner up: SugarBuddy, a wearable Diabetes-monitoring aid
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Problem: There are often insufficient pulmonary physiotherapists in hospitals to provide treatment to patients after surgeries or with severe COPD, lung cancer, pneumonia or COVID. These professionals must serve numerous patients simultaneously with fleets of devices.
Solution: Boreas is an advanced mechatronic system for pulmonary rehabilitation, which can be used by multiple patients. It is based on a microcomputer, which controls the resistance of the treatment, measures its parameters, visualises the desired breathing patterns, and sends the data measured to the physician. At the end of the rehabilitation session, the results can be analysed remotely by a medical expert.
Runner up: Innovative materials for bone tissue regeneration
Runner up: The Life Chariot, a MEDEVAC evacuation trailer for conflict zones
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Problem: The rise of micro mobility sharing services (e-scooters and e-bikes) has led to a significant increase in accidents, including serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), accounting for up to 40.2% of cases. However, on average only 4% of people wear helmets, mainly because these are incompatible with the spontaneous nature of new modes of transport.
Solution: Flattie is the first helmet that folds completely flat, to about the size of a 15" laptop, ultimately offering a 70% reduction in volume and easily fitting into a backpack. It uses cork as a liner, a natural and renewable material, replacing the petrol-derived EPS foam commonly used in traditional bike helmets. This enhances safety while increasing the product's sustainability.
Runner up: Rotiphera, smart management for fish hatcheries
Runner up: SmartPills, an intelligent pill dispenser
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Problem: Current open heart surgery braces do not provide the adequate forces needed for stability and can be uncomfortable for patients to wear.
Solution: Auxobrace creates bending and shrinkage forces that produce the ideal pressure and comfort level to the human body, providing dynamic stability to the sternum.
Runner up: Thermal floater, a floating solar energy device
Runner up: Project Mimir, a Braille embosser that converts text into Braille
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Problem: Microplastics are particles smaller than 5mm that come off during the washing process, some of which have their origin in clothes. They are one of the main causes of the pollution of the oceans.
Solution: FIX collects and re-values washing machine textile waste, which contains microplastics, to create a new material. Microscopic particles such as microplastics are agglomerated with a recycled polypropylene plastic, preventing their release into the marine environment.
Runner up: Nobjecte, an AI-powered wearable device for visually impaired people
Runner up: AVA, an adaptive personal care kit for people with spasticity
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Problem: Due to the significant lack of staffing within refugee camps, midwives are required to train people living within the camp to support them during delivery. They need equipment that can convey the complexities of giving birth and help improve the understanding of trainees.
Solution: Liv is a new training solution for labour and labour preparation, designed for teaching both midwives and people without medical knowledge within refugee camps.
Runner up: Imprint, a digital forensic tool for police officers
Runner up: Substance:ID, a roadside drug testing solution
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Problem: People with physical disabilities often have problems finding suitable, practical and fashionable clothing.
Solution: Para is a rain cover consisting of a jacket and a leg cover that can be worn together or separately, protecting them from rain. The rain cover can be adjusted to fit the body and offers plenty of storage options with many pockets and easy-to-open closures.
Runner up: Neunoi Sneakers, sustainable children’s shoes
Runner up: Lotte, an armchair that supports elderly people’s independence
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Problem: Elderly individuals with limited mobility often struggle to go outside and participate in independent activities.
Solution: EPICURSUS is a wheelchair that combines with a walking aid, which enables elderly individuals with limited mobility to stay active and socially engaged. It eliminates the need for extra assistive devices outdoors, reducing the risk of falls.
Runner up: Guan.Nect, sustainable outdoor children’s play equipment
Runner up: Wearable shelter
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Problem: Petroleum energy is a popular fuel source, but it is polluting and a finite resource.
Solution: O-GA is a renewable bio-oil which was created through extracting oil from algae. Algae is a plant that is cultivated and propagated quickly and easily, which is also environmentally friendly.
Runner up: Radiostent, a next generation treatment for brain tumour
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Problem: Wildfires are extremely common and damaging to the environment, and in 2021 Turkey saw some of its worst ever damage from the wildfire season.
Solution: ForestGuard is an IoT-based, satellite-connected sensor system that detects fires in real-time, working as a network in the forests using sensor-to-satellite communication. The modules have sensitive, wide-spectrum sensors which can measure gas levels, temperature, humidity, and air pressure, and in the event of emergency conditions can alert the authorities.
Runner up: Buddy Talkie, a marine exploration device
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Problem: Shopping is time-consuming and can be more challenging for those who are physically disabled.
Solution: SMEFA's smart scan cart allows wheelchair users to optimise the shopping process. They can independently scan and pack groceries into a cart designed to attach to a wheelchair, and thanks to the cart’s smart scanner the product can also identify product information such as allergens.
Runner up: Hydropurification, a greywater purification system
Runner up: Farmflock, a robotic swarm system for disease detection
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Problem: Those with chronic respiratory conditions including COPD, cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis often struggle to access the appropriate care. Without timely ongoing treatment, this can lead to infections, which increase the likelihood of hospitalisation and morbidity.
Solution: The Pleural device replicates chest physiotherapy, incorporating percussive impulses and audio analysis with machine learning to clear the lungs and evaluate mucus levels. As the device is self-guided, it reduces the need for patients to travel for physiotherapy and improves their treatment outlook.
Runner up: ReefDB, a structure for filtering underwater noise pollution
Runner up: Viwipe, a non-invasive low cost test for HPV using menstrual blood
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Problem: Current Ostomy bags are mostly single-use and disposable, and the design hasn’t been updated for 70 years. Ostomates go through an excess of bags (and expenses). Current pouches are also one-size-fits all and must be “cut-to-form,” often fitting poorly and leaking, while users also have little autonomy over when their stoma releases waste into the pouch.
Solution: The Gutsy port is custom fitted to each stoma, acting as an artificial sphincter of sorts and offering reprieve from the bag. Optimizing fit reduces both painful leakages and time spent creating a strong “seal.” Gutsy controls the flow of waste for hours at a time and takes a prosthetics approach, meaning the design supports reuse.
Runner up: Cellsense, decorative embellishments made from algae and regenerated cellulose
Runner up: Lunet, a low-cost 3D printable mechanical finger prosthesis
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