Calling all inventive undergraduates and all recent graduates of engineering and design, the James Dyson international design competition is back for 2021 and is challenging entrants to ‘design something that solves a problem.’

Broad and open-ended, the brief challenges students to solve real-world problems. Past winners have found solutions to renewable energy generation, new forms of sustainable plastics, and medical and cancer screenings. Hand picked by Sir James Dyson, the award will crown two global winners, the international winner and the Sustainability winner, who will each receive vital funding and global recognition.

James Dyson, founder and chief engineer at Dyson, says the award supports young people who are wanting to change the world.

“They are remarkably successful, 65 percent of international winners are commercialising their ideas, against a backdrop where 90 percent of start-ups fail. I will be looking for radical inventions that challenge and question established thinking.”

Last year saw a record breaking number of entries to the Award, and the new Sustainability prize awarded its first recipient. This Sustainability prize recognises the role that engineers and scientists play in creating a sustainable future, and is awarded to those who share Dyson’s philosophy of lean engineering, and doing more with less.

In 2021, two participants will take home $56,000, but first, each participating country and region will award a national winner ($3,700) and two National runners-up. Those that win a National accolade continue to the international awarding stages.

New Zealand will be judged by experienced industry figures, including international digital technology entrepreneur Derek Handley, environmentalist, sustainable business visionary and social entrepreneur Brianne West, and inventor and local legend Sir Ray Avery.

Students can enter here via the James Dyson Award website.