For Komal Panda, innovation is deeply personal. The fourth-year industrial design student at NID Haryana watched her father, a diabetic steelworker, struggle to store insulin safely. He had to rush home during lunch breaks because ice packs melted too quickly, and carrying visible medical devices posed risks of theft at work.
This everyday challenge led Komal to design Novocarry, a sleek, battery-powered insulin cooling carrier that ensures life-saving medication stays effective, even in extreme conditions. Her invention has now won the James Dyson India Award, a recognition of her commitment to healthcare innovation.
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The Urgent Need for Affordable Insulin Storage
In 2023, a study published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology reported that over 11% of India’s population—more than 101 million people—live with diabetes. Many struggle to store their insulin properly due to high equipment costs (₹20,000–₹25,000) and lack of reliable solutions, forcing them to rely on temporary fixes like thermoses or ice packs.
For people with Type 1 diabetes, maintaining insulin at 2°C to 8°C is critical. Without proper storage, insulin loses its effectiveness, leading to dangerous spikes in blood sugar levels. Managing diabetes often requires 4–5 insulin shots daily, making it even more essential to have a portable, reliable storage solution.
How Novocarry Works
Small, powerful, and easy to carry, Novocarry is designed as a personal accessory rather than a bulky medical device.
🔹 Size: Fits easily in a bag, about the size of a power bank
🔹 Capacity: Holds two insulin vials at a time
🔹 Battery Life: Two batteries power a cooling system that keeps insulin at 5°C for at least 8 hours—perfect for work, travel, or overnight trips
🔹 Versatility: Can also store other temperature-sensitive medications
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Real Stories That Inspired Novocarry
Komal’s research brought her in contact with numerous diabetes patients who struggled with insulin storage.
📌 A hostel student with Type 1 diabetes once found her insulin pack damaged in the shared fridge. With no backup, she had to be hospitalized.
📌 A woman from Uttar Pradesh, living in Bengaluru, had to constantly replace ice packs at every station while traveling by train to keep her insulin cool.
📌 Many diabetics rely on bulky six-container lunch bags just to carry their medication safely to work.
Komal realized that these “jugaad” (makeshift) solutions had become part of daily life, even though they were far from ideal. Her goal was clear: to create a simple, affordable, and effective alternative.
Beyond Just a Medical Device
For Komal, Novocarry is not just about technology—it’s about making life easier for millions. She sees it as a humane solution to a widespread problem.
Having lost her mother and watched her father battle diabetes-related illnesses, Komal understands the emotional and physical toll of chronic diseases. Her LinkedIn bio reflects her mission:
“An aspiring researcher in user experience design, with a focus on increasing accessibility and sustainability. Inspired and driven by history and culture, I care about stories and the ‘humane’ behind the ‘humanitarian’.”
And Novocarry is exactly that—a blend of empathy, innovation, and functionality.
What’s Next for Novocarry?
Currently, the patent process for Novocarry is underway, and it may take some time before it reaches the mass market. But when it does, it will be a game-changer for diabetics across India—offering a cheap, reliable alternative to expensive cooling devices.
And when that day comes, millions of people will have Komal Panda—a young innovator from Rourkela—to thank for changing the way they store and use life-saving insulin.
