Wales’ most promising young inventors were recognised for their creative ideas at the 24th annual Innovation Awards, hosted by WJEC. Held in Cardiff Bay on December 12 at The Senedd, the WJEC Innovation Awards 2024 celebrated the achievements of budding inventors from across Wales. The Innovation Awards were developed in collaboration with the Welsh Government to inspire creativity among young minds in Wales and provoke them to rethink conventional designs of everyday products and services. Following suit from previous years, the 24th celebration showcased the imaginative talent of young Welsh creatives.
The event additionally serves as a reflection on the legacy of Welsh inventors and acknowledges their contributions. Some of the world’s most groundbreaking inventions have come from Welsh inventors, such as the modern microphone, X-ray, and radar technology.
Sonny Normansell, from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern in Cardiff took home the top place in the A Level category for his design titled ‘Chessboard for the partially sighted and blind’. The judges commended Sonny for his inclusive design, offering a practical and thoughtful solution for enhancing the experience of those with sight limitations. On his win, Sonny said:
“I’m so happy and grateful to be here and it’s an honour to have won! It’s been a great opportunity to be able to display my product and show the work that has gone into it.”
Additionally representing south Wales, Joseph Knight from Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend won the IP Prize for his design of a ‘Music Manuscript Page Turner’, and Rhys Wijeratne Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern in Cardiff won the Science prize for his design of a ‘Parametric speaker’. On his win, Joseph said:
“I’m so honoured to have won the IP Prize, there are so many amazing projects here today, so to even have been shortlisted is a massive privilege. I’ve really enjoyed developing my product, and experimenting to solve the issue of page turning while playing an instrument, and I would love to continue exploring how my product could be taken further.”
On his win, Rhys said:
“I’m really proud to have been recognised, I’ve put in so many hours so to see it pay off, and see the other projects has been incredible. It’s an honour to have won in the science category. I was here last year as a finalist so this has been something that I have wanted for a long time, and I’m so grateful to be here.”
Other finalists in the A Level category from south Wales include Eleri Thomas from St David’s College in Cardiff and Charley Attwood from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern for their designs titled ‘Sustainable flat pack bike helmet’ and ‘QuickShield CPR Mat’ respectively. Finalists in the AS Level category from south Wales include Dylan Draper for creating an ‘Environmentally Friendly Outdoor Light’ and Chloe Radford from Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern for developing her design titled ‘ACL adaptive training aide for female footballers’.
Previous winners have already progressed in developing their inventions. Alys Jones, who won the GCSE category at the 2023 Innovation Awards, has recently received an “Intention to Grant” notification from the UKIPO for her design titled ‘portable footrest device’, an incredibly fast turnaround in the patent industry. Ian Morgan, WJEC Chief Executive, said:
“The Innovation Awards is an important event in our calendar, and we view it as a privilege to celebrate our young Welsh talent as they continue the legacy of Welsh inventors. Once again we have been overwhelmed with the standard of entries this year, and it is wonderful to see the bright and innovative ideas that the future generation holds, especially those that take a proactive approach towards solving today’s problems. I want to extend our congratulations once again to all those who entered and of course our winners. The thought, time and effort that went into these projects is truly admirable, and I look forward to seeing the future legacy of Welsh inventors.”
Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Economy, Energy and Planning Cabinet Secretary, said:
“I am incredibly proud to see such ingenuity and creativity from across Wales. Nurturing the next generation of innovators is a crucial part of our innovation strategy, and judging by the standard of entries this year, I am confident our young people are ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges and embrace every opportunity with fresh thinking and bold ideas.”
For further information about the competition visit https://www.wjec.co.uk/home/
