James Dyson Award now open for entries

Submissions can now be made for the James Dyson Award (JDA), an annual design and engineering competition open to emerging designers across the globe.

Established in 2005, the award aims to support the next generation of inventors by providing a platform to deliver a technically and commercially viable solution to a problem - particularly one that targets a sustainability issue.

"James Dyson believes that young people in STEM hold many of the answers that can make a positive change towards tackling the world's most pressing issues," a media communique from JDA reads. "So, the brief is simple - solve a real-world problem that could make a real difference to people's lives."

The competition is held across national and international stages, with a national winner receiving $9,950 to develop their invention, and the ultimate international winner receiving $59,700. A Sustainability Grand Prize is also on offer, to the value of $59,700.

In the past, Australian entrants have been awarded internationally. Ed Linacre, who won the international award in 2011, developed an Airdrop irrigation concept to harvest evaporated water moisture from the air. In 2024, Australian entrant Sorbet secured a spot in the award's Global Top 20 with an acoustic panel design made from shredded household textile waste and a starch-based glue.

To qualify for the award, teams must be led by a current degree-level apprentice, university student, or a graduate from the past four years, enrolled in engineering, product design or industrial design. Other team members must be (or have been within the past four years) enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate education program.

This year's entries are set to be judged by a panel of experts and a Dyson engineer. Three Australian entrants will be selected for consideration for the Global Top 20, from which James Dyson himself will select the global winner.

The competition is open internationally across a list of countries, including Australia. Details on how to apply can be found online.