2013 James Dyson Award open for entries

The James Dyson Award has opened for entries and this year the prize fund has increased by £52,000 to £96,000.

Dan Watson with his SafetyNet
Last year’s winner Dan Watson with his SafetyNet

Students of product design, industrial design, and engineering at university level, or those within four years of graduation can enter.

The international competition, run in 18 countries, is looking to award one winner £30,000 to develop their invention, with a further £10,000 for their institution.

Two international runners up will receive £10,000 each and national winners in each market will receive £2000 each.

Judges will be looking for ingenuity, creativity and sustainable engineering and entrants are encouraged to develop their ideas, ‘by doing more with less’.

Cutting down on raw materials and energy use should be considerations and creating a technology that will ‘perform better and last longer while having less environmental impact,’ according to The James Dyson Award.

Sir James Dyson says, ‘Young design engineers have the ability to develop tangible technologies, which can change lives.  The award rewards those who have the persistence and tenacity to develop their ideas – it is an exciting but challenging process.  Often the simplest ideas have the biggest impact.’

An entry deadline for 1 August has been set and entrants must submit prototypes along with details of design process and inspiration. Sir James Dyson will announce the winner on 7 November. Head here to enter.

Dan Watson with his SafetyNet
Dan Watson with his SafetyNet

Last year’s winner Dan Watson has been developing his SafetyNet product, which was designed to make commercial fishing more sustainable.

SafetyNet has now been tested and prototyped and a Dyson spokeswoman says that Watson has received interest from the US, Spain and Lithuania.

The product is a set of escape rings, which can be retrofitted to trawler nets. They prevent the holes collapsing under tension when trawling and illuminate, acting as an ‘emergency exit’ for juvenile fish to escape through.

If governments chose to approve the product there is potential for fisherman using it to be granted more days at sea, which may improve both sustainability and profitability.

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