Singaporean Inventor’s ‘nido’ Advances to Global Finals of the James Dyson Award

A groundbreaking Singaporean innovation is stepping onto the global stage of James Dyson Award 2025. nido, a smart, pocket-sized organiser designed to ease daily insulin injections for people living with diabetes, was named one of the Top 20 global finalists, competing for the grand prize of S$50,700 to further its development.

A Smarter Way to Manage Insulin Injections

Over 600,000 people in Singapore live with diabetes, many of whom face the daily challenge of multiple insulin injections. These routine jabs can be stressful, inconvenient, and risky when it comes to handling and disposing of used needles safely.

Nido, short for “neat insulin daily organiser”, offers an elegant solution. The device securely holds up to four needles of different brands and sizes, enabling discreet and hygienic use on the go. Its clamp-like design lets users attach and eject needles with one hand, while a tapered slot removes protective caps without finger pricks.

Design Born from Lived Experience

The inventor, Zoey Chan, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 20. Motivated by her personal struggles with public insulin injections, she spent years refining her idea through more than 100 prototypes and extensive user trials during her Industrial Design studies at National University of Singapore. Her goal: to make daily insulin routines safer, neater, and more empowering for users.

Global Recognition Ahead

nido will now compete in the final round, with global winners selected personally by James Dyson. Winners will be announced on 5 November and awarded S$50,700 to accelerate development and commercialisation.

This year’s global shortlist was chosen by 15 Dyson engineers across Singapore, the UK, US, Malaysia, and the Philippines, evaluating each invention for functionality, originality, and commercial potential.