Judit Giró Benet, a 23-year-old from Spain, won the international 2020 James Dyson Award with her Blue Box project. The device offers a new possibility for at-home breast cancer screening. Women these days must attend hospitals or other medical facilities and subject themselves to an invasive, sometimes painful and often costly procedure. To detect signs of breast cancer, the Blue Box utilises a urine sample and an AI algorithm. The device performs a chemical analysis of the urine and transmits the results to the cloud. From there, the AI-based algorithm responds to the specific metabolic products in the urine and delivers a diagnosis. Blue Box is connected to an app that controls all user communication and puts the user in touch with a medical professional in the event of a positive test result. The device opens up a non-invasive, pain-free, radiation-free and affordable method for women to screen for breast cancer regularly.
A sustainability winner was also announced this year for the first time. The title was given to AuREUS System Technology, which was developed by 27-year-old Carvey Ehren Maigue from Mapua University in Manila, Philippines. AuREUS is a material developed from a plant substrate which can be affixed to existing structures and surfaces and generate energy, regardless of whether it is sunny or cloudy outside. Recent tests have apparently shown that the system helps generate power 48% of the time, compared to 10% to 25% with conventional photovoltaic cells. Each winner will receive prize money of EUR 35,000. The year 2020 was a record year for the award. More entries were submitted than ever before, despite the many restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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