Inventor of incubator awarded Princess Royal Silver Medal

The Princess Royal Silver Medal, one of the most prestigious awards of the Royal Academy of Engineering, has been awarded to James Roberts, who invented the mOm incubator.

The new neonatal incubator was designed in the United Kingdom and is being used in NHS hospitals and across Ukraine. A total of 75 incubators have been sent to Ukraine, where they are being used in hospitals and bomb shelters. It is estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 have already benefitted from the new incubators. Ukraine has already asked for another 100. The incubator has been built to operate in challenging environments.

James Roberts was presented with the award during the Academy Awards Dinner in London by the Princess Royal, who is a Royal Fellow of the Academy.

James Roberts said, “I was taken aback but thrilled to win The Princess Royal Silver Medal. Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of DeepMind, won a Silver Medal in 2016, and to be in his company as a recipient, as well as so many other inspiring people, is strange but amazing. I’m hugely grateful for this award and humbled by it too.”

Richard Hebdon, Director for Health and Life Sciences at Innovate UK, said, “Congratulations to James and his team on this prestigious award. Innovate UK is pleased and proud to have supported mOm Incubators in their development of the mOm Essential Incubator. There is a great need for innovation in paediatric medical devices, and we would encourage all innovators and businesses in this area to consider Innovate UK funding and support for their innovations and help ensure that clinicians have the tools they need to treat and care for the youngest and often most vulnerable patients.”