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Carvey Ehren R. Maigue, an electrical engineering student at Mapua University, invented a plastic-like material that makes renewable energy from rotting fruits and vegetables. His invention won the first James Dyson Award for Sustainability in 2020, beating a record 1,800 entries from around the world. And now he鈥檚 fielding inquiries from electric car manufacturers who are interested in his technology.
Mr. Maigue鈥檚 story is about persistence. He first joined the James Dyson Award in 2018 and didn鈥檛 even make it past the national level.
In this episode of B-Side, he talks to 大象传媒 reporter Patricia B. Mirasol about his company, AuREUS System Technology, and the commercial applications of his invention: aside from powering electric cars, his technology can be used for window and wall solutions and e-textiles.
鈥淎uREUS is not just an invention, not just a business, but an ecosystem that can positively impact different sectors,鈥 said Mr. Maigue. 鈥淵ou do not need to solve a problem for the world. [Your solution] can be for a person that, for you, means the world.鈥
TAKEAWAYS
Your own mindset can be the biggest roadblock.
According to Mr. Maigue, there is a notion that that inventions made in the Philippines will be wasted, overlooked, or underappreciated.聽
鈥淲e have to overcome that thinking,鈥 he said. 鈥淓ven though we are in the Philippines, we do have the talent and caliber to compete and be recognized globally.鈥澛
鈥榊ou can think small and come up with something big.鈥
When Mr. Maigue spoke to students in Cagayan de Oro, one of the pressing questions involved the struggle in finding what to invent. 鈥淭he task is a bit daunting,鈥 he said. 鈥淭here are many solutions and many problems: what can you offer? What should you do?鈥
He suggested finding a problem of a person close to you: what are they struggling with? In farming, are there any tools that might improve what they鈥檙e doing? In the kitchen, are there things that might make their work more efficient? There are simple things that are often overlooked, but which can be the starting point to create something better.
鈥淚nventing is a very long process. If the inspiration is something for the benefit of a person very close to you, then that鈥檚 already a great motivation to carry on and move forward,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou can think small and come up with something big.鈥澛
Don鈥檛 fall in love with your product, fall in love with solving the problem.
Mr. Maigue shared the three principles he learned from his inventor journey:
1. Do not box yourself to a specific industry, as inspiration can come from other fields.
鈥淥ne of my inspirations came from something I saw in a pub. Had I boxed myself in, I wouldn鈥檛 have been able to converge different inspirations to create what I created.鈥
2. Inventing is not a 9-to-5 career but a 24/7 lifestyle.
鈥淭here鈥檚 this disconnect that鈥攊f you want to invent something鈥攜ou either need a stable job, or else pursue the path of an inventor in the hopes of hitting the jackpot eventually,鈥 he said. 鈥淵ou can be a baker or a musician: be open to the ideas that pop up, and create something new from there.鈥
3. Self-acceptance is part of the journey. Acknowledging defects and imperfections will allow you to make things better.
鈥淏y accepting your flaws and your invention鈥檚 flaws, you can remove the bias of being in love with your invention. Be in love [instead] with solving the problem you want your invention to solve.鈥
This B-Side episode was recorded remotely on Dec. 16, 2020. Produced by聽Nina M. Diaz,听Paolo L. Lopez, and聽Sam L. Marcelo.
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