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| The Brief | The Process | The Prize | FAQs |
About the James Dyson Award
The James Dyson Award forms part of a wider commitment by Sir James Dyson, to demonstrate the power of engineers to solve the world’s problems. Since 2005, the competition has supported more than 400 inventions with a total of £1. 7m in prize money and a chance to gain global media exposure, and is run by the James Dyson Foundation. Founded in 2002, the Foundation is an international education charity whose mission is to inspire the next generation of engineers. The Foundation also invests in medical research and has donated more than £155m to charitable causes to date.
The Brief
Design something that solves a problem. This problem may be a frustration that we all face in daily life, or a global issue. The important thing is that the solution is effective and demonstrates considered design thinking. Unlike other competitions, participants are given full autonomy over their intellectual property.
The Process
Entries are judged first at the national level by a panel of external judges and a Dyson engineer. Each operating market awards a national winner and two national runners -up. From these winners, a panel of Dyson engineers then select an international short list of 20 entries. The top 20 projects are then reviewed by Sir James Dyson who selects his global winners.
The Prize
- Global winners, chosen by Sir James Dyson, each receive a prize of S$51,700.
- Each national winner receives S$8,620.
Deadline to apply is midnight on 15th July 2026.
FAQs
How to enter?
- Candidates enter through an online application form via the James Dyson Award website. Entrants should explain what their invention is, how it works, and their development process. The best entries solve a real problem, are clearly explained, show iterative development, provide evidence of prototyping and have supporting imagery and a video.
Eligibility criteria
- Entrants must be, or have been within the last four years, enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate engineering/design related course . This course must be at a university in a country or region chosen to participate in the James Dyson Award.
- In the case of team entries, all members must be or have been within the last four years, enrolled for at least one semester in an undergraduate or graduate programme at a university in a country or region chosen to participate in the James Dyson Award. At least one team member must have studied an eligible subject in engineering or design. Those participating in a degree level apprenticeship at Level 6 or Level 7, and those who have completed said apprenticeship in the past four years, are eligible to enter the award.
- Further FAQs can be found on the James Dyson Award website.