Sir James Dyson conferred an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the Singapore University of Technology and Design

On 25 November 2025, Sir James Dyson was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the Chancellor of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and President of the Republic of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam. This is the university’s highest form of recognition for outstanding individuals.

Addressing the students of SUTD, Sir James reflected on Dyson’s journey in Singapore, its global headquarters, and the power of engineering to shape a better future.

“This recognition is really testament to the ingenuity of Dyson engineers in Singapore,” said Sir James Dyson. “SUTD and Dyson share a common belief in challenging convention and improving things through engineering. An engineer's role is to do the unexpected, and the world needs more creative problem solvers! I urge young inventors to believe in their ideas, ignore the doubters, and never be afraid to fail. Be bold. Be different.”

Speaking at the ceremony, SUTD Chairman Lee Tzu Yang said: “Sir James has not only transformed how the world approaches everyday design challenges – he has redefined what it means to invent with purpose. His vision of combining creativity with engineering rigour mirrors SUTD’s own ethos. Through initiatives like the James Dyson Award, he has inspired generations of young engineers to turn curiosity into invention and ideas into impact. We are deeply honoured to confer this degree on Sir James, and we hope his story will continue to spark bold thinking and fearless experimentation among our students and budding inventors from Singapore and around the world.”

During the ceremony, Sir James Dyson was presented with a model of the airXeed Radiosonde, the Global Sustainability Winner for the 2024 James Dyson Award. The inventors, Shane Kyi Hla Win and Danial Sufiyan Shaiful from SUTD, gifted the model as a memento for Sir James, highlighting the engineering behind the winning invention.