From classroom microscopes to modern salt-farming solutions, Filipino innovators have already proven they can solve real-world problems. Now, the James Dyson Award (JDA) is looking for the country’s next breakthrough idea.
The James Dyson Award has officially opened entries for its 2026 competition, inviting Filipino university students and recent graduates to submit inventions designed to tackle pressing challenges in society.
The international design and engineering competition, founded by inventor and entrepreneur Sir James Dyson, has become a launchpad for young innovators around the world. For many participants, the award offers more than prize money—it provides global visibility, industry recognition, and an opportunity to transform promising prototypes into commercially viable products.
This year, national winners in the Philippines will receive ₱398,280 and advance to the international stage, where global winners selected by Sir James Dyson will receive ₱2.39 million.
A platform for problem-solvers
Make-Roscope transforms a smartphone or tablet into a portable microscope
Unlike many innovation competitions that focus primarily on concepts, the James Dyson Award emphasizes practical solutions to real-world problems.
“I established the James Dyson Award to encourage young ‘doers’ in life who are focused on solving the problems they see in the world, not grandstanding about them,” Dyson said in a statement.
“It has been inspiring to see so many brilliant ideas from young design engineers, many of whom have gone on to build businesses and take their problem-solving ideas to people and markets all over the world.”
The competition arrives at a time when universities, startups, and governments are increasingly encouraging innovation-driven entrepreneurship, particularly in fields such as sustainability, healthcare, education, food security, and climate resilience.
In 2025 alone, the competition received more than 2,100 entries from young inventors worldwide, covering challenges ranging from health screening and household waste management to disaster response technologies.
Filipino inventions making an impact
JDA Philippines’ 2023 national winner Jeremy De Leon holding a Make-Roscope
Several Filipino innovators have already used the competition as a springboard to bring their ideas to a wider audience.
Among the most notable is Make-Roscope, the Philippines’ 2023 national winner created by inventor Jeremy De Leon.
Designed to address the lack of affordable science equipment in many schools, Make-Roscope transforms a smartphone or tablet into a portable microscope, allowing students to explore microscopic specimens using devices they already have access to.
What began as a classroom solution has since evolved into a growing educational technology business.
Following its recognition in the competition, De Leon expanded the project into his own brand, JereMAKE. The product has now sold more than 10,000 units and established partnerships with over 70 schools and universities, reaching thousands of students in the Philippines and overseas.
“The James Dyson Award opened opportunities that helped Make-Roscope move beyond a prototype and be used in real classrooms by students in the Philippines and beyond,” De Leon said.
More recently, the Philippines’ 2025 national winner, “SolAsin,” showcased how engineering innovation can support traditional industries.
Developed by University of the Philippines Diliman graduate John Carlo Reyes, SolAsin seeks to modernize salt production by using a compact, solar-powered evaporation system. The technology aims to help small-scale salt farmers produce more consistent, higher-quality flaky salt while reducing dependence on unpredictable weather conditions.
Reyes said the competition offered an opportunity not only to present his invention but also to inspire others to design solutions for underserved communities.
“I saw the James Dyson Award as a great platform to showcase my work. Maybe it could inspire others to design with and for communities,” he said.
Innovation beyond the laboratory
John Carlo Reyes shows how SolAsin, a compact, solar-powered evaporation system, can make salt
The success of projects such as Make-Roscope and SolAsin highlights a growing trend among Filipino innovators: creating solutions rooted in local challenges.
From improving access to science education to helping coastal communities increase agricultural productivity, many winning entries have focused on practical technologies with direct social impact.
As the Philippines continues to invest in science, technology, and entrepreneurship, competitions such as the James Dyson Award provide young inventors with an avenue to test ideas, gain recognition, and potentially attract partners or investors.
For aspiring participants, the challenge is straightforward: identify a problem, design a solution, and demonstrate how it can work in the real world.
How to apply
Submission of entries for the awards program are now open through the James Dyson Award website.
Eligible applicants include university students and recent graduates in engineering and design-related disciplines.
Judges will evaluate submissions based on their ability to solve a clear problem, the quality of the design process, originality, and technical feasibility.
The deadline for submissions is July 15, 2026.
For Filipino innovators with ideas that could improve lives, communities, or industries, the competition offers an opportunity to turn a project into something much bigger.
