James Dyson Award | September 11, 2024

James Dyson Award 2024: National Winners revealed

Gen Z is becoming known as one of the most entrepreneurial generations in history*. And this year’s James Dyson Award National Winners announced today prove just that, and share their inventions and bright minds with the world. From acoustic panels made from textile waste to an alternative to the traditional mammogram procedure, they set out to solve global problems across sustainability and healthcare.

The world’s most pressing problems require innovative and practical solutions. To inspire the next generation of problem solvers, James Dyson launched The James Dyson Award in 2005, an international design and sustainability competition, encouraging young engineers and scientists to tackle these global issues head-on. Since then, the Award has supported more than 400 young inventors and awarded over £1m in prize money. This year, students and recent graduates from 29 countries worldwide submitted nearly 2,000 inventions to the Award, showcasing their unique ideas to address issues from sustainability to healthcare.

Today, we reveal the national winners of the Award, selected by a panel of expert judges in each market from the worlds of academia, medicine and engineering. Our winners have secured prize money and media exposure to help bring their inventions closer to commercialisation. They will now progress to the international Top 20 shortlist stage, to be announced on 16 October.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners! Read on to find out more.

Problem: There is an increase in household textile waste, largely contributed to by the fast fashion industry. As the demand for cheap, low-quality clothing increases, so does the pollution of Australia's landfills.

Solution: Sorbet acoustic panels are made from shredded textile waste combined with a starch-based glue. The panels are more sustainable than competitors and efficiently reduces more noise pollution than other acoustic panels.

Runner-up: Koro Alert Siren, a natural disaster siren for remote island communities.
Runner-up: Brews to Blooms, a DIY biodegradable plant pot using spent coffee waste.
Problem: Small electronic devices are especially prone to ending up in household waste due to unclear disposal systems and their small size. In 2020, 4.9 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment were generated in Europe. This amount is less than half of the e-waste that was correctly collected and recycled. The rest ended up in household trash, landfills or incineration, leading to the loss of precious and rare materials.

Solution: PAPE is a product family primarily made from densely pressed paper fibers with a dissolvable and recyclable PCB board inside. This design transforms the smoke detector and WiFi router into a closed material cycle, making them both affordable and user-friendly.

Runner-up: finGrip, a catheter system for users with low dexterity.

Runner-up: SLEEP IN MOTION, a redesigned interior layout of sleeper trains.

Problem: Blue-green algae blooms produce toxins and lead to oxygen depletion, the death of aquatic organisms and severe disruptions in the ecosystem. Existing mechanical, chemical and biological methods to combat these blooms are expensive, require regular maintenance or are harmful to the environment.

Solution: The Reef is an innovative, ecological filter module which has been designed to counteract the growth of blue-green algae in water bodies, by filtering out phosphates and other nutrients.

Runner-up: Hemo-Fit, a wearable and reusable hemodialysis device.

Runner-up: Lumeco, a reusable glucose monitor.
Problem: Elderly people who use wheelchairs can struggle to get in or out of them without aid, increasing their chance of injury.

Solution: ArmBar+ is a wheelchair attachment that brings independence and confidence to elderly people by blending in as an armrest and expanding to become a portable grab bar. This allows them to freely get up and down from their wheelchair with ease.

Runner-up: WheelBeats, a web app centralising accessibility information for events.

Runner-up: CPR LIFELINE, a hands-free mechatronic device that performs CPR automatically and accurately.

Problem: WHO states that about 0.1% of the global population has severe hearing loss, making hearing aids ineffective. As haptics and HCI researchers, the team recognises the importance of touch for visual or hearing-impaired people.

Solution: VirtX is a tactile suit using innovative textiles to render high-resolution tactile sensations, designed to help the hearing-impaired experience sound through touch.

Runner-up: CoJump, a soft ergonomic robotic glove for stroke rehabilitation.

Runner-up: DysphagiaDynamics, a portable, non-invasive smart assessment and home-based rehabilitation system.
Problem: Despite France's potential to recycle 81% of household waste, Eurostat reports that only 26% was recycled in 2021.

Solution: Binko combines a smart machine and a smartphone app, powered by a cutting-edge waste recognition software. This software can identify over 2.6 million waste items through any camera, using barcode scanning and image recognition. The machine recognizes waste, crushes it into small pieces, and sorts it into one of seven transparent compartments.

Runner-up: Pomo, an inclusive kitchen timer for teenagers and adults with autism.

Runner-up: Totem, a food preservation unit with segmented storage areas to reduce waste and energy use.

Problem: Due to the increasing wolf population in Europe, livestock attacks are becoming more frequent.

Solution: Pherofort is a collar for wolves which combines innovative, humane herd protection based on pheromones with automated wildlife management to prevent livestock attacks.

Runner-up: +/- Brace, a user-centred, fully customisable elbow brace.

Runner-up: Social Plast, an affordable plastic recycling system using UHPC concrete.
Problem: Construction workers in Hong Kong work in extreme heat, often reaching 45°C. 60% of Hong Kong’s 600,000 construction workers have suffered symptoms of heat stroke.

Solution: Air Ring 48 is a more ergonomic and biometric cooling accessory to protect outdoor workers from worsening climate-induced heat stress.

Runner-up: Neuroharbor, an AI-based seizure detection and treatment system.

Problem: Patients who take regular medication, such as insulin, often struggle to store their medication at the correct temperature when they aren’t at home.

Solution: Novocarry is a portable cooling solution for medications like insulin, that require refrigeration during transport, addressing the needs of users for discreet, convenient, and reliable storage.

Runner-up: Krea Limb, a customisable prosthetic arm for people with upper limb differences.

Runner-up: HydroChurn, a portable and self-sustaining water bottle.
Problem: Scalp cooling treatment, which is used to mitigate hair loss during chemotherapy, is shown to be important for many patients in preserving their sense of identity and emotional well-being. However, despite its benefits, the treatment poses challenges that may include discomfort, accessibility issues, variability in effectiveness, and a lack of widespread availability.

Solution: Athena is a portable, thermoelectric, patient-managed cooling device consisting of a carry case and a wearable headpiece. It aims to provide a more accessible and effective option for scalp cooling.

Runner-up: SUAS, a secure seating system for wheelchair users in aircrafts.

Runner-up: Swoop, an accessible music engagement tool.

Problem: Traditional strollers are cumbersome and heavy, leading to physical exertion. They are also difficult to store away.

Solution: IVA solves the problem of heavy, bulky strollers by providing a convenient, easy-to-carry solution that unfolds in seconds, reducing physical strain and enhancing mobility for parents.

Runner-up: StainEraser, a portable stain removal device for clothes.

Runner-up: Enki, a wearable robotics support for rescuers in hydrogeological emergencies.
Problem: The COVID-19 pandemic brought to the surface the challenges of mask-wearing. Masks muffled voices, and in noisy environments, this often led to poor audio quality in online meetings.

Solution: WhisperMask is a noise-cancelling microphone that can pick up only your voice, even in noisy environments. It can clearly capture even whispers in loud settings like subway stations or places where others are talking nearby.

Runner-up: MilkEase, a wearable and compact breast pump.

Runner-up: ARALA, an affordable and customisable lab automation system.

Problem: Cooling a home or building via air conditioning units requires the use of significant amounts of energy, often from unsustainable sources.

Solution: Brikoole is a passive cooling system within a building's structure that uses controlled air flow and evaporative cooling to reduce indoor temperatures without external energy.

Runner-up: Near Exergame, a gamified stroke rehabilitation device

Runner-up: Floodsack, a buoyant goods storage for floods.
Problem: There is a limited number of ways to communicate with those who are hard of hearing, leading to exclusion and frustration.

Solution: Signal Glove is a low-cost Mexican Sign Language (LSM) translator glove designed to improve communication and facilitate the educational learning of the language for all ages.

Runner-up: Loo, a dry toilet system for areas without a drainage system or access to water.

Runner-up: Concavix, a concave mouse for individuals with underdeveloped hands.

Problem: Traditional meat production is extremely unsustainable.

Solution: Crikorama is a home cricket farming machine for protein-rich consumption. It enables continuous operation and harvesting, with restarts from previous generations' eggs, providing an endless protein source and a sustainable alternative to traditional meat.

Runner-up: Biomeon, a reusable biosensor for monitoring recovering colorectal cancer patients at home.

Runner-up: The Eduscope Rig, an affordable digital microscope rig for schools.
Problem: Tens of thousands of glass medication vials are disposed of in sharps bins yearly in hospital wards and ICUs, requiring autoclaving before landfill, an energy-intensive process. These vials could be recycled, but post-processing barriers exist. Separating aluminium caps from glass vials with makeshift tools causes hand strain and laceration risks. Opening glass ampoules, poses high risks due to sharp edges causing lacerations.

Solution: Cap Snap is a medical multi-tool for crimp seal cap removal and ampoule breaking, designed for health professionals to reduce risks when accessing medications and reduce barriers to more sustainable practices.

Runner-up: HindSight, an ultra-lightweight safety system for running vests or backpacks.

Runner-up: Alta, a user-friendly hospital meal table.

Problem: The subsurface of the earth contains many hazards such as pollution and sinkholes. Awareness of this can help address issues before they arise and find solutions.

Solution: RAMUN consists of sensors that autonomously record voltage response to create a video of subsurface events to enable timely action.

Runner-up: Fire GeoPrimer, a geopolymeric intumescent flame retardant primer coating for wood application.

Runner-up: GeopolyCement, a sustainable and cost-effective cement alternative.
Problem: The inspiration came from the inventor’s vacation in Southern Europe, where temperatures reached 40 degrees. The extreme heat highlighted the divide between those who could afford cooling and those who couldn't.

Solution: Kuuler is a novel, passive, radiation cooling technology. It aims to substantially reduce cooling costs through an innovative system suitable for both industrial applications and individual consumers.

Runner-up: ReVitalize, a posture correction system to support rehabilitation.

Runner-up: Safer-visiON, intelligent assistive glasses for those with visual impairments.

Problem: Many women avoid mammograms due to the discomfort and pain of breast compression, leading to delayed breast cancer detection and higher mortality rates.

Solution: Mammosense analyses individual breasts to determine the optimal breast compression force, reducing procedural pain by objectively adjusting the force applied during screenings. This enhances comfort and encourages more to undergo breast cancer screenings.

Runner-up: Airxeed Radiosonde, a sustainable radiosonde to enhance weather prediction.

Runner-up: Yar, an AI-powered device to assist visually impaired people
Problem: Oxygen shortages claim lives every year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many experienced breathing difficulties and died due to lack of timely oxygen supply. This issue extends beyond pandemics, with 25 million annual deaths due to inadequate oxygen treatment.

Solution: Oxynizer provides 1.5-2 times the oxygen concentration of ambient air. It can be paired with pumps and compressors based on patient needs in resource-limited setting.

Runner-up: Plant Fitting Box, transparent solar panels that allow light to reach plants below them.

Runner-up: Tailwind, a cooling helmet for outdoor workers

Problem: There is a critical need to transition to renewable energy. Without action, future generations may face an energy crisis due to environmental degradation.

Solution: Atom H2 is a hydrogen storage system that efficiently stores excess renewable energy, solving the issue of intermittent energy supply. It uses safe, solid-state hydrogen storage, reducing energy waste and ensuring a reliable, and sustainable energy supply.

Runner-up: NeoShell, a neonatal incubator that improves accessibility and medical procedures.

Runner-up: Aria, a tubeless CPAP machine for comfortable sleep apnea treatment.
Problem: Sleep problems are particularly prevalent among young people, especially in developing countries. Common sleep issues include waking up at night, difficulty falling asleep, and frequent nighttime bathroom visits, affecting health and daily life.

Solution: BEKVÄM detects neural states to identify sleepiness, deep sleep, or waking up. It aids sleep with pink noise and light treatment, gently awakens the user, and supports scheduled wakeups.

Runner-up: GreenPod, a user-friendly and eco-friendly hazardous medical waste container for diabetics.

Runner-up: Moii, an airway clearance therapy training kit for adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

Problem: Around 2.6 billion people rely on polluting open fires or basic stoves for cooking. Indoor air pollution leads to 3.8m annual deaths according to WHO, 40% being children.

Solution: Hydrogencooker uses solar energy to generate hydrogen and oxygen from water. The hydrogen is then used as energy for cooking.

Runner-up: Hikane, a smart walking cane for the visually impaired.

Runner-up: Senso, electrotherapy stockings for those with diabetic neuropathy.
Problem: Ventilation balls are widely installed on the roofs of factories in Asia, but due to manufacturing limitations, these products are difficult to maintain. During heavy rain, the ceiling often leaks, posing a danger to workers operating machinery and causing damage to goods.

Solution: F+L Lighting Ventilation Balls is a detachable waterproof structure to solve the problems of water leakage, difficult maintenance, and vulnerability to bird damage in traditional ventilation balls.

Runner-up: AE66, an enhanced wheelchair mobility solution.

Runner-up: Flying Ear Pressure Regulator, an ear pressure regulator for airplane take-offs and landings.

Problem: Plastic pollution is a global problem with a need to develop sustainable and effective biodegradable alternatives.

Solution: Carbon Polymerizing System is a carbon-negative innovation that autonomously captures carbon molecules using bacterial fermentation techniques to produce environmentally friendly biodegradable plastic called polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB).

Runner-up: NANO HEMP, affordable carbon nanotubes from hemp biomass waste.

Runner-up: PlantPoxy, a sustainable fungi pest control for agriculture.
Problem: Istanbul, a vast metropolis, faces severe issues with mucilage in its waters and pervasive CO₂ emissions, severely impacting biodiversity.

Solution: Algbio utilizes microalgae to capture CO₂ and treat wastewater, converting these into biofuels and bioplastics, thus reducing emissions, improving water quality and mitigating climate change.

Runner-up: MigRelieve, a migraine relief device.

Runner-up: FlexCare, a knee treatment kit combining stabilization, electrotherapy and cryotherapy.

Problem: The team’s inspiration for this project came after interviews with the African Sign Language Resources Center, discussing the daily challenges faced by deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals in communicating with their society and the lack of accessible solutions.

Solution: Eshara is an innovative Arabic sign language translation system that uses deep learning and avatar technology to facilitate seamless communication between deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their hearing counterparts.

Runner-up: OcularSky, a portable and affordable alternative to fundus cameras.

Runner-up: DewHopper, a geo-solar atmospheric water generation system for underground irrigation in coastal arid regions.
Problem: Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires globally. By 2100, extreme wildfires are predicted to increase by 50%, most significantly in the Arctic and tropical forests where communities are severely unprepared. Early wildfire detection is key to reducing wildfire devastation. Conventional solutions require prohibitive amounts of time, money, and labour to install and maintain.

Solution: Pyri is a bio-inspired and bio-based early wildfire detection system for remote and low-cost coverage. The heat from nascent wildfires activate Pyri’s novel organic electronics which emit an RF signal to alert vulnerable communities.

Runner-up: Peter, a wearable biomedical device for those with Parkinson’s Disease to regain their ability to walk.

Runner-up: PulpaTronics, a sustainable RFID tag to eliminate metal mining.

Problem: Working with addiction experts revealed limitations of current cessation methods: lack of personalization, fixed dosing, and potential for new dependencies. With 50-70% of global smokers and vapers wanting to quit, there’s a need for an adaptive system leveraging big data and personalized protocols to overcome existing shortcomings.

Solution: AMSTAD provides a personalised solution for tobacco use disorder (TUD) through a multi-chamber system that controls nicotine dosages based on real-time user data. Integrated with IoT, it addresses both physical and behavioural aspects to reduce dependency.

Runner-up: Syntec, a quick brain health assessment device.

Runner-up: Grate Mate, a grill companion for easy storage and disposal of hot coals.

View all James Dyson Award 2024 entries

* https://www.forbes.com/sites/markcperna/2024/06/18/gen-z-thriving-entrepreneurship/

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