When 22-year-old Komal Panda saw her father constantly battling with the challenge of keeping his insulin vials cool and safe, she decided to do something about it. What began as a deeply personal mission quickly transformed into an innovation that could improve the lives of millions living with diabetes worldwide. Her invention, Novocarry, has now earned her the James Dyson Award, a global recognition for design and engineering excellence.
Komal, a product design student from India, was motivated by more than just technical curiosity. She watched her father and other diabetic family friends struggle while travelling or simply managing day-to-day tasks where temperature control for insulin was a persistent issue. Many of them relied on traditional coolers or makeshift solutions, which were either bulky, unreliable, or lacked portability.
To solve this, Komal designed Novocarry—a compact, lightweight insulin carrier that maintains the vial’s optimal temperature between 2°C to 8°C for up to 10 hours. The device uses a phase change material and smart insulation layers, eliminating the need for electricity or ice packs. It is sleek, durable, and designed to be easily carried in bags or pockets, making it especially useful for diabetics with active lifestyles or limited access to refrigeration.
What sets Novocarry apart is its simplicity and user-friendliness. It doesn’t just work—it works quietly and efficiently, empowering users to carry life-saving insulin without worry. Komal also focused on making the product affordable, ensuring that it doesn’t just serve the elite but reaches remote and underserved communities too.
Winning the James Dyson Award was not just a validation of her design skills but a testament to how personal challenges can spark global solutions. Komal plans to scale Novocarry’s production with the help of funding, collaborations with healthcare NGOs, and outreach to diabetes clinics across the country.
Her innovation stands as an example of empathetic engineering—design rooted in real problems, led by purpose. As diabetes continues to be a growing global health concern, Komal Panda’s Novocarry brings both innovation and hope, reminding us that sometimes, the greatest designs come from the deepest love.