James Dyson Award Names AI Water Sensor and Smart Keyboard as 2025 Global Winners

The James Dyson Award has announced its 2025 global winners, awarding each ₱2,168,000 for groundbreaking innovations that address real-world challenges in water safety and Parkinson’s care.

This year’s winners are:

WaterSense – Global Sustainability Winner

Filip Budny, a PhD candidate in nanotechnology at Warsaw University of Technology, designed WaterSense, an autonomous water quality monitoring device. Unlike traditional manual testing, WaterSense uses AI-powered sensors to provide real-time monitoring and early alerts for water pollution.

OnCue – Global Medical Winner

Alessandra Galli, an Italian product designer and Delft University of Technology graduate, created OnCue, a smart keyboard designed for people with Parkinson’s disease. OnCue integrates therapeutic cues into its design to help manage tremors and typing difficulties, offering a unique solution to a widespread challenge.

Now celebrating its 20th year, the James Dyson Award has supported more than 400 student inventions worldwide, distributing ₱108,400,000 in prize money. This year alone, over 2,100 entries were submitted from 28 countries and regions.

James Dyson, Founder of Dyson, commented, “The James Dyson Award celebrates young inventors who tackle real-world problems with creativity and practicality. Our 2025 winners, Filip and Alessandra, embody this spirit, addressing critical environmental and health challenges with intelligent, actionable solutions.”

WaterSense Tackles Water Pollution in Real Time

Rivers in the Philippines are under threat, with 43% considered polluted. Many rivers are exposed to untreated domestic sewage and industrial waste, yet only select priority rivers are regularly monitored. Traditional water monitoring methods are slow, sporadic, and limited.

WaterSense changes the game. Powered by natural water currents through a built-in hydrogenerator, the device uses low-cost, recyclable paper sensors to track over 20 indicators of water quality, such as pH, dissolved oxygen, and nitrates. It samples at multiple depths and automatically replaces sensors daily to ensure consistent, lab-grade accuracy.

The device transmits real-time data to an AI platform that analyzes trends, predicts pollution events up to 72 hours in advance, and makes the information publicly accessible for communities and authorities. Currently tested in 20 locations across Poland, WaterSense is set for expansion across Europe and eventually globally.

Filip Budny said, “Winning the James Dyson Award motivates us to scale WaterSense and make clean water measurable, predictable, and accessible worldwide.”

OnCue Supports People Living with Parkinson’s

Approximately 120,000 Filipinos live with Parkinson’s disease, facing tremors, freezing episodes, and fine motor challenges that make typing difficult. Existing assistive keyboards offer limited support, lacking integrated therapeutic features.

OnCue addresses this gap. The smart keyboard works with wristbands to deliver haptic and visual cues, guiding users through typing and reducing errors. Gentle vibrations help maintain rhythm, while AI predicts and highlights the next letters to prevent mistakes. Its split design reduces hand strain, and the customizable lighting and vibration patterns accommodate fluctuating symptoms.

Alessandra Galli explained, “The James Dyson Award validates our commitment to helping people with Parkinson’s. The prize allows us to refine OnCue and bring it closer to those who need it most.”

James Dyson praised the innovation, stating, “Alessandra’s design empowers people with Parkinson’s to communicate independently, transforming typing from a challenge into a manageable, confident experience.”

The 2025 James Dyson Award winners highlight the ingenuity and practical problem-solving of the next generation of inventors, offering solutions that could change lives and protect the planet.