James Dyson Award 2026 crowns global winners for innovations tackling building safety and concussion risks

The James Dyson Award has announced its 2026 global winners, honoring two student-led innovations from the Philippines and the United States that focus on improving building safety and detecting sports-related concussions, with each winning team receiving RM162,999 (£30,000) to support further development of their inventions.

The two global winners are Sentinel, the Global Sustainability Winner, developed by Aldrei Ong from De La Salle University in the Philippines, and Rumble Rims, the Global Medical Winner, created by Radhika Saran, Cleo Pontone, and Sophia DeVito from Harvard University in the United States.

Sentinel is a low-cost sensor embedded in concrete that detects hidden cracks and structural damage following earthquakes, helping identify buildings at risk of collapse. Meanwhile, Rumble Rims is an affordable headset that uses infrared eye-tracking technology to screen athletes for potential concussions during sports activities.