The James Dyson Award, an annual design and engineering competition to solve problems from everyday challenges to the world’s most pressing issues, opened to young Kiwi inventors on Wednesday, 12 March 2025.

James Dyson believes that young people in STEM hold many of the answers that can make a positive change towards tackling the world’s most pressing issues. So, the brief is simple - solve a real-world problem that could make a real difference to people’s lives.

The inventions are set to be judged at a national level by a panel of external renowned experts and a Dyson engineer. The judges will select a national winner, who will be awarded $11,000 NZD to develop their invention further.

Additionally, three New Zealand entrants will be selected for consideration for the global top 20, from which Sir James Dyson himself will select the global grand prize winner of $66,100 NZD. There is also a Sustainability grand prize on offer, the winner taking home $66,100 NZD.

In 2024, New Zealand entrant Cap Snap secured a coveted spot in the James Dyson Award’s Global Top 20, addressing safer and more sustainable practices for medical waste, making it easier for crimp seal cap removal and ampoule breaking. Jack Pugh was announced as the 2024 national winner and Cap Snap has continued development internally within Health NZ, Te Whatu Ora Improve.

Since it was established in 2005, the James Dyson Award has supported more than 400 student inventions with close to $2 million in prize money and a global platform. Those who progress to the final stages and are selected by James Dyson as the global winners will claim a prize of $66,100 NZD and a chance to gain international media exposure, providing a springboard to commercialise their inventions.