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Tony Elumelu Foundation funds 5000 African SMEs from 54 African countries for its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme

The 2021 beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 400,000 applications, based on their innovation, performance, and growth potential to create jobs and eradicate poverty on the continent

LAGOS, NIGERIA – EQS Newswire – 17 November 2021 – Each entrepreneur receives non-refundable US$5,000; 68% of beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs.

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), the leading philanthropy empowering African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries, has selected 4,949 entrepreneurs from across Africa for its 2021 Entrepreneurship Programme.

The 2021 beneficiaries were selected from a pool of over 400,000 applications, based on their innovation, performance, and growth potential to create jobs and eradicate poverty on the continent. Consisting of both new start-ups and existing small businesses, the 2021 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs have undergone world-class business training, mentorship and coaching and will have a life-time access to the Tony Elumelu Foundation alumni network.

Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu shared, “To you young African entrepreneurs – work hard, dream dreams, and be very disciplined. You must continue to think of impact. The entrepreneurship journey is not linear – there are ups and downs, but by staying focused and resilient, ultimately success will come your way. The future of our continent is in your hands. What you do as entrepreneurs will go a long way in lifting Africa out of poverty. I am happy that our female entrepreneurs are doing very well, with 68% representation this year.”

He added: “To our African leaders – these young, intelligent, energetic hardworking, resilient Africans are ready to go. We need to keep creating the right enabling environment to enable our young ones to succeed. We must realise that their success is success for all of us on the continent. We must prioritise them because nations and continents that prioritise their people, succeed. To my fellow business leaders, let us realise that in the 21st century and beyond, it is about impact, legacy and about how we work together to power people out of poverty. It is such a great feeling to see 5000 young Africans also commence their own entrepreneurial journeys today.”

Speaking at the event, Director-General, International Cooperation and Development, European Commission, Mr. Koen Doens stated: “I remember very well, a few years ago in Brussels when I first met Tony Elumelu at one of the events his Foundation was organising. Both of us were struck by how there was such a clear match between his vision on how he could support African entrepreneurship and the European Union’s own vision on how we wanted to support African entrepreneurship. Ever since, our partnership has embodied this same spirit that ultimately African growth cannot neglect the huge potential, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit that harbours so many Africans, especially young people and women. I am extremely glad our partnership is moving into this active stage, and I am very glad that over 2400 women will benefit from the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s training programme, and will get seed capital to support their ideas. I am extremely happy that at the European Union, we are able to be part of this great endeavour and to support it.”

Also speaking at the event, Assistant Administrator, UNDP/Director, UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa stated: “Our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation on youth entrepreneurship is informed by our belief that Africa will only succeed when young Africans are given the opportunity to excel. This is what has inspired us to invest more than $20 million in emerging African entrepreneurs since we entered into our partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. Our joint ambition is to empower 100,000 young African entrepreneurs over the next ten years across Africa, recognising that entrepreneurship is the only way dreams can be realised.”

Speaking, Secretary General, OACPS, H.E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti stated: “On behalf of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS), I would like to heartily commend the Tony Elumelu Foundation for this extraordinary achievement. We are proud to have partnered with the Tony Elumelu Foundation and our longstanding partner, the European Union to unlock the potential of 2420 young African women through this TEF Entrepreneurship Programme, providing mentorship and funding, to grow and sustain these small businesses.”

Speaking on the panel with Mr. Elumelu, 2015 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneur, Hauwa Liman, Founder of Afrik Abaya, shared: “I am always proud to say that I am from the inaugural cohort of the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme. My business is located in Kaduna, Nigeria. I benefitted from this Programme in 2015, and it opened up lots of doors and opportunities. It is not just about the seed capital, but what really fascinates me about the Programme is the knowledge. I call it a mini-MBA programme, because from the ideation stage it teaches you how to really articulate your business, and it gave me my first business plan. The network, visibility and opportunities are endless. My entrepreneurship experience cannot be complete without the Tony Elumelu Foundation. I will start exporting soon courtesy of the Foundation. We now employ ten permanent staff and an additional eight staff on a commission basis.”

Tony Elumelu Foundation CEO, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, concluded the event stating: “Today, we have trained ten times more young African entrepreneurs than we have trained from 2015 to 2019 combined. Today in 2021, we will be paying out a record US$24,750,000 directly to the hands of African entrepreneurs from all 54 African countries. This is impact.”

Since its inception, the Tony Elumelu Foundation has now funded a total of 15,847 entrepreneurs who have created more than 400,000 direct and indirect jobs and counting. Through TEFConnect (https://bit.ly/3qLruxA), the Foundation’s proprietary digital platform, it has provided capacity-building support, advisory and market linkages, to over 1.5 million Africans.

Applications for the 2022 Tony Elumelu Foundation opens on January 1, 2022, on http://www.TEFConnect.com. For a list of the selected 2021 Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs and information on our applicants, please visit the website of the Tony Elumelu Foundation here (https://bit.ly/30pmzqN).

Hang Lung Properties looks forward to Christmas with Launch of “hello Christmas!” Cross-Mall Winter Rewards, a Series of e-Shopping Offers and Surprises

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – As the Christmas season is approaching, everyone begins looking for exquisite gifts for friends and family. This winter Hang Lung Properties is launching a cross-mall winter rewards program, “hello Christmas!”. During the promotion period starting from November 18, 2021 until January 2, 2022, members of the “hello Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program” who spend designated amounts by electronic payment in merchants of Hang Lung Malls will enjoy Christmas e-Coupons, as well as over one hundred of unique surprises for six consecutive weeks. Fashion Walk also offers extra rewards to hello members, who can receive a premium upon spending a designated amount by electronic payment in a single transaction in a single day. Together, this festive trove of surprises marks a rewarding celebration of the holiday season with all members!

 

Cross-Mall Promotion to celebrate the winter festival together with e-Coupons

To celebrate the holiday season, during the promotion period hello members can make qualifying purchases and accumulate specified net amount (HK$1,500 or HK$1,000) by electronic payment in a single day in the merchants of Hang Lung Malls, including Fashion Walk, Central properties (including 1 Duddell Street, Printing House, Baskerville House and Standard Chartered Bank Building), Grand Plaza, Hollywood Plaza, Gala Place, Amoy Plaza and Kornhill Plaza to receive HK$100 or HK$50 Christmas e-Coupons. (For details, please refer to table below)

 

Surprising Offers for six consecutive weeks, hello members enjoy wonderful privileges and rewards

What’s more, Hang Lung Properties specially presents a series of wonderful rewards to hello members. Starting from November 18, 2021, for six consecutive weeks, hello members can redeem over one hundred rewards with smaller amount of hello Points through Hang Lung Malls App, including for premium items such as the Dyson Hot + Cool™ AM09 fan heater, iPad (Wi-Fi/64GB), Max Mara accessories, Vivienne Westwood Café afternoon tea for two, Wooderful life Christmas music box, and a series of e-Coupons from merchants. The closer Christmas gets, the more attractive the rewards will be, making for a Christmas rewards run-up that will bring endless surprises for shoppers!

 

Extra Rewards for hello members at Fashion Walk

Furthermore, from November 18 to November 30, 2021, hello members who spend HK$12,000 net by electronic payment in a single day in a single transaction at Fashion Walk will receive a Charlotte Tilbury Holiday Gift Box (worth HK$1,200); and from December 1, 2021 to January 2, 2022, hello members who spend HK$6,000 net by electronic payment in a single day in a single transaction will receive a surprising gift from Fashion Walk merchants. Now’s the time to begin enjoying an unforgettable holiday season, and welcome in a great new year with multiple rewards!

Photos download: https://bit.ly/3C39lNp

Details of Promotion Campaign

Campaign:

“hello Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program” member Exclusive: Christmas e-Coupon Reward

Period:

November 18, 2021 – January 2, 2022

Applicable Malls:

Mall portfolio (1)

Mall portfolio (2)

Mall portfolio (3)

Mall portfolio (4)

–        Fashion Walk

–        1 Duddell Street

–        Printing House

–        Baskerville House

–        Standard Chartered Bank Building

–        Grand Plaza

–        Gala Place

–        Hollywood Plaza

–        Amoy Plaza

–        Kornhill Plaza

Details:

hello members will receive a HK$100 Christmas e-Coupon upon same-day accumulative net spending of every HK$1,500 by electronic payment and uploading the receipts.

hello members will receive a HK$50 Christmas e-Coupon upon same-day accumulative net spending of every HK$1,000 by electronic payment and uploading the receipts.

Receipts Upload:

Upload through the Hang Lung Malls App or visit Concierge Counter at Fashion Walk or Peak Galleria.

Remarks:

  • Customers have to register as hello member of Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program to enjoy the shopping privileges.
  • Each eligible receipt must be HK $100 or above.
  • Christmas e-Coupon is valid for 30 days upon issuance.
  • Christmas e-Coupon is applicable at selected Retail Merchants only. The list of merchants will be uploaded to Hang Lung Malls App.
  • Each HK$100 Christmas e-Coupon can be used upon spending HK$300 or more at one of the Designated Christmas e-Coupon Merchants for a single transaction; each HK$50 Christmas e-Coupon can be used upon spending HK$150 or more at one of the Designated Christmas e-Coupon Merchants for a single transaction.
  • Maximum of ten (10) Christmas e-Coupons with the same face value can be used for each single transaction. Christmas e-Coupon of different face value could not be used in the same transaction.
  • Each member shall be entitled to redeem a maximum of three (3) Christmas e-Coupons of the same face value per week during the promotion period at each portfolio and for such purposes, a “week” commences on a Thursday and ends on a Wednesday.
  • Christmas e-Coupons are available while stocks last.
  • The Christmas e-Coupons cannot be used in conjunction with other e-Coupon(s) issued by Hang Lung, except Hang Lung e-Shopping Coupon.


Campaign:

Weekly Surprising Offer for Members of “hello Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program”

Period:

November 18 & 25, and December 2, 9, 16 & 23 2021

Details:

Starting from November 18, 2021 for six consecutive weeks, hello members can redeem more than one hundred rewards with points through Hang Lung Malls App, including Dyson Hot + Cool™ AM09 fan heater, iPad (Wi-Fi/64GB), Max Mara accessories, Vivienne Westwood Café afternoon tea for two, Wooderful life Christmas music box and a series of e-cash coupons from merchants etc.

Remarks:

Rewards are available while stocks last.


Campaign:

Fashion Walk Extra Shopping Reward

Period:

1.) November 18 – 30, 2021

2.) December 1, 2021 – January 2, 2022

Details:

hello members will receive a Charlotte Tilbury Holiday Gift Box upon same-day net spending of HK$12,000 by electronic payment in a single transaction and uploading the receipts to Hang Lung Malls App.

hello members will receive an exclusive gift from Fashion Walk merchants upon same-day net spending of HK$6,000  by electronic payment in a single transaction and uploading the receipts to Hang Lung Malls App.

Receipts Upload:

Upload through the Hang Lung Malls App or visit Concierge Counter at Fashion Walk or Peak Galleria.

Remarks:

  • During each promotion period, each member can redeem each reward once only.
  • Rewards are available while stocks last.



About Hang Lung Properties

Hang Lung Properties Limited (stock code: 00101) creates compelling spaces that enrich lives. Headquartered in Hong Kong, Hang Lung Properties develops and manages a diversified portfolio of world-class properties in Hong Kong and the nine Mainland cities of Shanghai, Shenyang, Jinan, Wuxi, Tianjin, Dalian, Kunming, Wuhan and Hangzhou. With its luxury positioning under the “66” brand, the company’s Mainland portfolio has established its leading position as the “Pulse of the City”. Hang Lung Properties is recognized for leading the way in enhanced sustainability initiatives in real estate as it pursues sustainable growth by connecting customers and communities.

At Hang Lung Properties – We Do It Well.

For more information, please visit www.hanglung.com.

About hello Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program

hello Hang Lung Malls Rewards Program, along with the Hang Lung Malls App, will bring you the latest promotions and event information of over 600 merchants within our malls, including Fashion Walk, Peak Galleria, Grand Plaza, Hollywood Plaza, Gala Place, Kornhill Plaza, Amoy Plaza and Central Properties (including 1 Duddell Street, Printing House, Baskerville House and Standard Chartered Bank Building). Members can earn 1 hello point for every HK$1 spent and redeem exclusive privileges and extraordinary experiences available at our malls. Discover a world of excitement on one platform – brought to you by Hang Lung malls.

Explore now:

https://www.hanglungmalls.com

Download register as hello member now! Start exploring every side of you.

#HangLungProperties

SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE., the large-scale Japanese sake activity, makes a triumphant return with an ultimate sake and seafood crossover experience!

In partnership with 60 Japanese restaurants and 40 Cantonese restaurants, SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. assembles 100 renowned eateries with 300+ curated menus of sake x seafood cuisines.

Review the designated dishes to win a mini bottle of sake and enter the lucky draw for a sake staycation and dinner at Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen


HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – It’s been 3 years since JFOODO hosted the first large-scale Japanese sake activity SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. The activities this year spans the full months of September and November, all designed to promote the sake x seafood combo more comprehensively. 100 Chinese and Japanese restaurants have joined Ivan Sean, International Kikisake-shi (Sake Sommelier), to design around 300 unique Japanese sake and seafood pairings. To follow the staycation trend in Hong Kong, the “SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. Review Campaign” has been specially added. Participants may win prizes by visiting partner restaurants and reviewing SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. menus on OpenRice. Winners will enjoy Hong Kong’s first-ever sake staycation co-organised by Eaton HK, with a sake-themed dinner at one-Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen. Let the sake fever begin!

 

100 leading Chinese and Japanese Restaurants join forces to promote the heavenly match of sake and seafood

To prove sake not only is a perfect pairing with Japanese cuisine but also with Cantonese seafood cuisine, SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. has shifted the focus this year to Cantonese fares – around 60 of the 100 partner restaurants are Chinese diners; the remaining 40 are Japanese. This marks a historical high number of participating restaurants compared with the previous two years! Each partner restaurant will launch at least 3 seasonal seafood dishes, followed by a curated sake pairing by Sake Sommelier Ivan Sean. The total of around 300 sake x seafood combinations will allow more Hongkongers to have a taste of this match made in heaven.

 

Eaton HK and one-Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen x SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. launch exclusive staycation with sake-themed dinner

This year, SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. has partnered with Eaton HK and their one-Michelin-starred restaurant Yat Tung Heen. During the activity phase in September, foodies can enjoy an eight-course sake dinner at Yat Tung Heen, including five seafood dishes and four handpicked sake. Eaton HK even brought out Hong Kong’s first-ever sake-themed staycation, offering a creative twist on the recent trend. There will be two bottles of mini sake in the hotel room during the stay, along with two SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. special edition sake snifter glasses. An online “sake x seafood” tasting workshop will also be available, featuring insights of pairing and tasting methodologies from a Sake Sommelier. To complete the sake staycation experience, the eight-course sake dinner at Yat Tung Heen cannot be missed.

 

Write an OpenRice review on the spot to win a mini bottle of sake, and better still, a staycation and dining experience at a Michelin-starred restaurant

Given Hongkongers’ enthusiasm in sharing insights on food and restaurants, SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. will organise a “SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. Review Campaign”. From today until 31 December, participants can visit partner restaurants, order a dish from the SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. special menu, post a review with a photo about the dining experience on OpenRice, fill out the information required on the online registration form, then take part in the “SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. Review Campaign”. Winners will receive a “sake x seafood” themed package of one night’s staycation and dining experience from Eaton HK.

 

After enjoying SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. sake and seafood pairings from partner restaurants, participants who show restaurant staff the successfully uploaded review are eligible to receive a participation prize of a mini bottle of sake (random flavour) on the spot from the restaurant. Each partner restaurant has 5 prizes on a first-come-first-served basis while stock lasts.

 

For details of activities under SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE., please visit:

Official Website: https://sake-jfoodo.jetro.go.jp/hongkong/cantonese/main.html

Official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/seafoodlovessake/

“SEAFOOD LOVES SAKE. Review Campaign” Website:

https://sake-jfoodo.jetro.go.jp/hongkong/restaurant/en/review-campaign/index.html

#JFOODO

DEUTZ AG: DEUTZ creates new Green segment

  • New growth strategy drives transformation to sustainable mobility
  • CEO Dr. Frank Hiller: “We are reinventing the engine”

COLOGNE/STOCKSTADT, GERMANY – EQS Newswire – 17 November 2021 – DEUTZ AG is creating a new reporting structure and introducing the segments ‘Classic’ and ‘Green’.

With effect from January 1, 2022, all activities connected with the development and production of new non-diesel drives will be assigned to the Green segment. This includes electric drives, the subsidiary Torqeedo, and the battery management specialist Futavis. Through the new reporting structure, DEUTZ is giving much greater visibility to the development of hydrogen-powered engines and fuel cells. Activities related to the development, production, sales and service of diesel engines will be combined under the Classic segment.

Dr. Frank Hiller, CEO of DEUTZ: “The new segmentation of our commercial operations will, above all, provide the capital markets with a more transparent picture of our work on off-highway technology for a carbon-neutral future. It is backed by a growth strategy that very clearly sets out our milestones and activities in the period up to 2031. At the same time, the new strategy leaves DEUTZ’s employees in no doubt that the Company is fully committed to the transformation of its product portfolio.”

The activities in the Green segment currently generate around €60 million per year, equivalent to around 4 percent of DEUTZ’s revenue. The intention is to increase this proportion to more than 50 percent by 2031, both through organic growth and through targeted acquisitions and takeovers focused on the new technologies. DEUTZ aims for the new segment to reach break-even in 2027.

Strategic investments will also be included in the Green segment, for example the planned investment in Blue World Technologies, a leading manufacturer of fuel cells.

Up to 2026, investment in the growth strategy for the Green segment will mainly be funded by the traditional business with diesel engines. Frank Hiller: “Internal combustion engines will be in demand in our application areas for many years yet. We are a global leader in agricultural machinery and construction equipment, and more and more of our customers are showing interest in long-term partnerships.”

For example, DEUTZ recently announced new alliances with John Deere, SDF and AGCO that will see DEUTZ either develop or manufacture entire engine series for these leading players in the world of agricultural machinery. “DEUTZ is getting greener, there is no doubt about that. The switch to new drives is on its way in all customer groups. We want to be – and will be – at the forefront of this transformation. Whether diesel, gas, synthetic fuels, electricity, or hydrogen, we are reinventing the engine. Today, there are all kinds of different drive systems, all with the aim of movement. The era of fossil fuels is coming to an end, but the need for mobility will remain.”

#DEUTZ 

ZEISS Celebrates 175 Years of Innovation, Passion and the Courage to Develop

JENA, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 17 November 2021 – 175 years ago, young mechanic Carl Zeiss opened his workshop for precision mechanics and optics in Jena, thus laying the foundation for what would become ZEISS.

 
ZEISS Group President and CEO Dr. Karl Lamprecht during the virtual event to mark ZEISS’ 175th anniversary at the Volkshaus in Jena (©ZEISS). / Editorial use of this picture is free of charge. Please quote the source: “obs/Carl Zeiss AG”

To mark this special day, the company ran a celebration event. The virtual event took place on 16 November 2021 at the Volkshaus, in the company’s founding city Jena. During the virtual event, Dr. Karl Lamprecht, President and CEO of the ZEISS Group, praised the company’s successful past, celebrated its present and shared his outlook on the future.

“ZEISS’ unique history and its exceptional achievements make it a truly extraordinary company. Its 175 years also demonstrate the company’s high level of resilience and its willingness to accept change. And, above all, ZEISS’ tremendous passion, coupled with its pioneering spirit and its pragmatism in challenging and pushing the limits of the technically feasible,” said Dr. Lamprecht. “175 years of ZEISS are more than just a historical milestone in our corporate history. It’s also what motivates us to look ahead and help contribute to a bright future shaped by technological innovations.”

In a video message, German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated all ZEISS employees around the world: “175 years of ZEISS is much more than an anniversary. Its interplay of entrepreneurial spirit, drive to research, and inventiveness make the ZEISS Group a pioneer of modern industry.” The President underlined ZEISS’ responsibility as a foundation-owned company: “Thanks to Ernst Abbe’s visionary realization that economic success, scientific progress and social cohesion all go together, he set up the Carl Zeiss Foundation and thus paved the way for the company to take entrepreneurial responsibility for the common good.”

 

#ZEISS

James Dyson Award 2021: three winners with world-improving inventions

  • HOPES, A device for pain-free, at-home eye pressure testing, opeing up access to glaucoma testing, by students of the National University of Singapore.
  • Plastic Scanner, A low-cost, handheld device to identify plastic for recycling, by Jerry de Vos from TU Delft.
  • REACT, A device to stem bleeding to help save the lives of stabbing victims, by Joseph Bentley from Loughborough university.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 17 November 2021 – The James Dyson Award has now given nearly £1m in prize money to over 250 promising inventions from young engineers and scientists in 28 countries around the world. In 2021, the Award received a record number of entries worldwide and Sir James Dyson chose three global winners for the first time, each receiving £30,000 in prize money to support the next stages of their inventions.

 

Commenting on this year’s competition, Sir James Dyson said, “I enjoy seeing the enthusiasm with which young people tackle the world’s problems using good design, engineering and science. So promising were this year’s entries that we’ve awarded a third prize, focused on medical invention. Commercialising an idea is very hard – I hope that the awareness that the Award drives, as well as the financial support it provides, will give these ideas a springboard to success.”

 

International winner – HOPES, designed by Kelu Yu, Si Li and David Lee

 

The problem

This year’s International winner of the James Dyson Award was inspired by one of the inventors’, Kelu, father’s diagnosis of glaucoma. After witnessing his discomfort and multiple hospital visits, she realised there is a global need for a less invasive and more accessible method for Intraocular Pressure (IOP) monitoring.

 

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide[1], and it is also the leading cause of registered, permanent blindness in Hong Kong (23%)[2]. Because it is largely symptom-free, it’s also known as the “silent thief of sight”[3]. There is no cure but, if diagnosed and treated early, blindness can be prevented.

 

Today, regular IOP monitoring is a critical tool in helping clinicians determine long-term treatment plans and goals. This is achieved through the Goldmann Applanation Tonometry – regarded as the gold standard for the measurement of IOP. There is a demand for safe, accurate, low-cost, at-home IOP measurement devices to better improve the patient experience.

 

The solution

HOPES, (which stands for Home eye Pressure E-skin Sensor) is a wearable biomedical device for pain-free, low cost, at-home IOP testing. Powered by patent pending sensor technology and artificial intelligence, HOPES is a convenient device for users to frequently self-monitor IOP.

 

After creating a profile in the App, the user wears the HOPES glove with the sensor placed at the fingertip, pressing this against the centre of the eyelid. The fingertip employs a unique sensor architecture that captures dynamic pressure information of the user’s eye with sub-millisecond precision. The captured signals are processed by machine learning algorithms to continuously and accurately compute users’ IOP.

 

Data is transmitted via Bluetooth to paired devices or uploaded to the Cloud to be accessed remotely by clinicians. The App prompts users with easy-to-read measurement history and direct links to healthcare systems, allowing them to seek medical help to minimise future symptoms.

 

Next steps

The team plan to collaborate with clinicians at the National University Hospital to collect and analyse patients’ eye pressure data to train the device’s machine learning mode. At the same time, they are working on optimising HOPES’ performance, and improving its design.

 

Sustainability winner – Plastic Scanner, invented by Jerry de Vos

 

The problem

Plastic is a lightweight, safe and readily available material which can be used to make long-lasting, durable products. It has a bad reputation because it is often not thought to be recyclable and so ends up in landfill, or worse on the beach or in our oceans. However, with the right technologies plastics can be widely recycled successfully at end of life and transformed into new products, which themselves are long-lasting and durable.

 

The challenge is identifying the plastic so that it can be recycled in the correct way, rather than sent to landfill. The technology exists but is expensive and rare. With greater availability of plastic identification much more plastic can be recycled and therefore used more effectively.

 

The solution

The Plastic Scanner, invented by Industrial and Product Design graduate Jerry De Vos from the Netherlands, is this year’s Sustainability winner. Plastic Scanner is a handheld device that when held against plastic will tell the user what materials it’s made from. It uses near-infrared spectroscopy, a technology that can categorise more than 75% of plastics.

 

Jerry is a member of Precious Plastic, an organisation that aims to reduce plastic waste. Through his work for the organisation he has witnessed the negative impact of plastic pollution first-hand and the bottlenecks caused when plastic is not identified and sorted in the recycling process. Around the world, much of this process is done by hand which takes time and is prone to error. Jerry has seen successful technology used in large factories in the Netherlands where infrared reflections assist with the sorting. This is a vital step for ensuring it is recycled properly. Jerry’s mission has been to make this technology available for everyone around the world so they can recycle better.

 

The Plastic Scanner uses near-infrared spectroscopy to detect types of plastic – a new and low-cost approach to traditional infrared spectroscopy. The Scanner is also uses open source GPL-v3 license, so anyone can assemble the breakout board and embed the electronics into a handheld device. Open source welcomes feedback and improvements from experts, so the project will continuously improve as more people recycle plastic around the world.

 

Jerry learnt that much plastic entering our oceans comes from low and middle-income countries. It is his mission to support recycling initiatives in these nations with the way he designed the low-cost and ease of use of the Plastic Scanner. During development, Jerry interviewed recyclers from India, Indonesia, Kenya and Curacao to ensure his model was suitable for end users.

 

Next steps

Jerry has gathered a team of friends specialising in embedded systems and machine learning to support his creation of new prototypes and pilot the Scanner in both industry and low resource contexts. Long-term his goal is to make the project sustain itself, with DIY versions of the Scanner, whilst enriching Open-source documentation to make it easier for others to get involved and contribute to his mission.

 

Medical winner – REACT, invented by Joseph Bentley

 

The problem

Knife crime is an issue in many countries around the world and last year, with rates of knife crime on the rise in almost all continents, particularly in countries with strict gun laws. In England and Wales alone, there were around 46,000 offences involving a knife or sharp instrument, which is the highest number of offences since the year ending March 2011[4].

 

The average wait time for an ambulance in the UK is currently just over eight minutes, while the target response time is 12 minutes for emergency ambulance calls in Hong Kong[5], yet it can only take five minutes for someone to bleed to death[6][7].

The solution

The REACT device (which stands for Rapid Emergency Actuating Tamponade) aims to reduce catastrophic blood loss from a knife wound. The current advice for treating stab wounds is to never remove the knife object from the wound if it is still in place[8]. This is because the object is applying internal pressure to the wound site whilst also filling the cavity and preventing internal bleeding. Joseph’s concept is based on the same principle, the implantable medical-grade silicone balloon tamponade would be inserted into the wound tract by a first responder. The actuator device is connected to the tamponade valve, and the user selects the wound location on the device interface. Squeezing the trigger on the actuator starts the automated inflation sequence, and the tamponade is inflated to a defined pressure based on the wound location to try and stem the bleeding. 

 

During the early research and development phases, Joseph discovered that current wound management techniques like wound packing are sometimes used by paramedics to prevent bleeding from stab wounds[9]. This process involves tightly packing a wound with gauze, which will help to apply pressure internally to the site. According to Joseph, the process can be slow, technical, and extremely painful to the victim, but has in many cases proven to be successful in quickly stopping bleeding from knife wounds. 

 

Despite this, the technique may not be suitable for wounds in cavities like the abdomen, which is the most common area for knife wounds to appear following a knife attack[10]. During his prototyping, Joseph found that the simple application and automated inflation procedure of the REACT system could be a more effective method for first responders compared to traditional methods. He claims his prototype Tamponade could potentially be in place and stopping haemorrhage in under a minute, which Joseph estimates could save hundreds of lives a year.

 

Next steps

Winning a global James Dyson Award prize will inject a further £30,000 into Joseph’s project. He aims to commercialise his invention in the coming years, using the Award money for further research and official medical testing into how the REACT invention can become a global solution to knife wounds and hopefully save lives.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

The James Dyson Award forms part of a wider commitment by Sir James Dyson, to demonstrate the power of engineers to change the world. The Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, the James Dyson Foundation and James Dyson Award encourage aspiring engineers to apply their knowledge and discover new ways to improve lives through technology. Since the competition first opened in 2005, James and the James Dyson Foundation have donated over £135m to boundary-breaking concepts in education and other charitable causes. The Award has supported nearly 300 inventions with prize money.

 

PREVIOUS GLOBAL WINNERS

·          2020 International winner – The Blue Box

Invented by 23-year-old Judit Giró Benet, The Blue Box is a new way to detect breast cancer, at-home, using a urine sample.

·          2020 Sustainbility winner – AuREUS

Invented by 27-year-old Carvey Ehren Maigue, AuREUS is a new material, made from waste crop, which converts UV light into renewable energy. The Sustainability prize was newly created in 2020.

·          2019 International winner – Marina Tex

MarinaTex is a home compostable material designed as an alternative to single-use plastic films. The material is comprised of waste material from the fishing industry and sustainable algae.

·          2018 International winner – O-Wind Turbine

O-Wind Turbine is an omnidirectional wind turbine that can capture wind travelling in any direction, unlike conventional turbines. This allows it to be used in urban environments where wind flow is multi-directional.

·          2017 International winner – The sKan

The sKan is a low cost and non-invasive melanoma detection device invented by a team of medical and bioengineering undergraduates from McMaster University, Canada. The team are currently using the prize money to refine their design to ensure it passes the US Food and Drug Administration standards.

·          2016 International winner – EcoHelmet

EcoHelmet is a foldable, paper bike helmet for bike shares. It uses a honeycomb configuration to protect the head from impact and folds completely flat when not in use. It is currently in product development stages.



[4] Taken from official National Health Service (NHS) and Office of National Statistics (ONS) data

[6] Taken from official National Health Service (NHS) data in November 2020

[7] Department of Homeland Security. (2015). Stop the Bleed. [online] Available at: https://www.dhs.gov/stopthebleed

[8] Hammett, E. (2020). How to help someone who has been stabbed or is seriously bleeding. [online] First Aid for Life. Available at: https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/knife-crime-serious-bleeding/

[9] Hammett, E. (2020). How to help someone who has been stabbed or is seriously bleeding. [online] First Aid for Life. Available at: https://firstaidforlife.org.uk/knife-crime-serious-bleeding/

[10] Sugrue, M., Balogh, Z., Lynch, J., Bardsley, J., Sisson, G. and Weigelt, J. (2007). GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF HAEMODYNAMICALLY STABLE PATIENTS WITH STAB WOUNDS TO THE ANTERIOR ABDOMEN. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 77(8), pp.614–620.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

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, before progressing to the international stage. A panel of Dyson engineers then select an international shortlist of 20 entries. The top 20 projects are then reviewed by Sir James Dyson who selects his global winners.

The 2021 prizes

  • The International winner receives a prize of £30,000, plus £5,000 for the winner’s university.
  • The Sustainability winner and the Medical winner receive a prize of £30,000.
  • Each National winner receives £2,000.

How to enter. Candidates enter through an online application form via the James Dyson Award website. Entries open again on 16 March 2022. Entrants should concisely 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 physical prototyping and have supporting imagery and a video.

#JamesDysonAward

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