James Dyson Award shortlist includes emergency buoyancy aid

It’s a bit like Dragons’ Den but without Duncan Bannatyne being nasty to you – or some of the hare-brained ideas for that matter. Engineers at Dyson’s Wiltshire HQ have drawn up a shortlist of 20 inventions from all over the globe for the prestigious James Dyson Award.

Now in it’s fifth year, the prize of £20,00 will go to the design student who convinces a panel of international experts that he or she has come up with an innovative solution to a problem. Entries this year include an electrostatic notice board which suspends paper and objects without the need for pins and a device that shoots emergency buoyancy aids up to 150m out to sea.

Says James Dyson: “We’re looking for useful ideas that demonstrate adventurous thinking and a rigorous approach to a problem. Many of this year’s designs have real potential.”

James Dyson will announce the global winner on October 5. All of this year’s entries can be viewed on www.jamesdysonaward.org