How leading inventors are making a holistic impact through design creation and problem-solving

Two outstanding local innovators have been shortlisted for the international stages of the 2024 James Dyson Award for their pursuit of design and innovation, as well as problem-solving within the community. 

Additionally, both local innovators will have a chance to become a global winner and receive S$50,500 in supporting the following stages of their inventions, to be selected by Sir James Dyson and announced on 13 November 2024.

As one of the leading technology companies in the world since 1991, Dyson aims to invent and improve better machines. With its team of engineers and scientists, it aims to create long-term value for people and society, whereby Dyson machines outperform others and are built to last.

The James Dyson Award aims to set the benchmark for budding inventors to make a name for themselves. With a significant cash prize, they could generate media exposure to kick-start their careers and gain the confidence to launch their businesses.

This is part of the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson's charitable trust, which aims to get young people excited about design engineering among budding inventors with potential and inspire the next generation of engineers.

Unconventional Innovations Excelled in Problem-Solving

By conferring the James Dyson Award to various well-performing individuals, the award honours innovators through an iterative design process and designs that employ clever yet simple engineering principles and address clear problems.

This year, the two local innovators are among 20 other projects shortlisted for the global award. They were selected by a panel of 14 Dyson engineers based on their expertise in design, electronics, and sustainability.

One of the innovators is Luke Goh, a National University of Singapore graduate and Singapore National Winner of the James Dyson Award, for its design of Mammosense, which is a first-of-its-kind tool that analyses individuals' breasts to determine the optimal compression force required during screenings, for greater patient comfort. 

The invention also aims to reduce the reported pain experienced during a mammogram and encourage more individuals to undergo this life-saving procedure.

Additionally, the other innovators who were shortlisted are Shane Kyi Hla Win and Danial Sufiyan Bin Shaiful, who received their PhDs in Engineering Product Development from the Singapore University of Technology and Design, for its innovation of airXeed Radiosonde, which is a reusable weather data collection instrument modelled after a maple seed, which allows for better steering control. 

Conventionally, weather stations often use radiosondes, weather data collection instruments carried by a balloon to various levels of the atmosphere. Once the data is transmitted to the weather station, the Radiosonde falls and is left unrecovered, with each station launching about two radiosondes a day. 

In addition, radiosondes are single-use, resulting in about USD$190 million wasted and 48.4 tonnes of electronic waste left to pollute the environment yearly.

The new device allows it to be directed to a collection point, retrieved by the weather station, and deployed again, massively decreasing pollution and the impact on the environment.

Innovation on the Rise

Innovation has been part of a growing trend this year, with many more innovators setting their sights on a growing industry in the coming years.

For instance, Mobvista, a mobile technology company, built a brand through the world of mobile advertisers that everyone lives in and the critical innovation of AdTech to catalyse the growth of tech businesses through its developers.

The recently held Bhutan Innovation Forum, which aims to generate discussion around mindful innovation, is also encouraging the growth of the innovation scene. This approach aligns with the country's holistic well-being and economic progress and focuses on investments that drive sustainability.

"Our James Dyson Award Top 20 shortlist makes me excited for the future!", said Ms Rumyana Dancheva, Lead Design Engineer at Dyson and Chair of the James Dyson Award 2024 Judging Panel.

Dancheva expressed her excitement that the inspiring groups of talented young inventors will continue to develop their ideas into commercially successful products. She also believes that every shortlisted entry has the clear potential to improve the world and people's lives.