The James Dyson Award is open for entries, giving students and recent graduates of engineering and design a unique opportunity to show their problem solving inventions on a global stage. The brief is simple, design something which solves a problem, big or small. The international winner will gain global exposure through the competition, and Rs 26 lakh as prize money to develop their idea.
This is the second season for the award in the country. last year, three Indian entries made it to the international top 20 shortlist, with Asish Mohandas, Creator, Maattam being recognised as the national winner for India in 2017.
The competition recognises ingenious designers and engineers who challenge the status quo and do more with less. The best inventions are often the simplest, yet provide an intelligent solution to a real-world problem.
The competition brief: Design something that solves a problem. This problem may be a frustration we all face in daily life, or a global issue such as world hunger. The important thing is that the solution is an effective and well-thought through solution.
The prize: the international prize: Rs 26,00,000 (and Rs 4 lakh for their university), Rs 4 lakh for two international runners-up and each national winner receives Rs 1.7 lakh.
The process: Entries are judged first at the national level — before progressing to the international stage.
A panel of Dyson engineers select an international shortlist of 20 entries. The top 20 projects are then reviewed by Sir James Dyson, who selects the international winner.
How to enter: Candidates enter through an online application via the James Dyson Award website. Entrants should concisely explain what their invention is, how it works, and their development process.
The best entries are always realistic and sustainable, show iterative development, solve a real problem and tell a story.
Entrants should submit imagery to support their application. The best entrants should be able to show evidence of physical prototyping as well as sketches and CAD.
Eligibility: Entrants must be, or have been within the last four years, enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate engineering or design program at a university in a country or region chosen to participate in the James Dyson Award.
The deadline: The deadline is midnight GMT on July 20, 2018.