CybPass wins 'Leading Through Innovation' award at Sheffield Business Awards 2026

CybPass, an artificial intelligence cybersecurity startup spun out from the University of Sheffield, was named the winner of the coveted Leading Through Innovation Award at the 2026 Sheffield Business Awards.

Organised annually by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements, creativity, and economic impact of businesses across the Sheffield City region.

The Leading Through Innovation Award recognises organisations that push boundaries, challenge conventions, and create groundbreaking products that address real-world user needs. In securing the award, CybPass stood out to judges across key criteria, including innovation, creativity, problem-solving, industry impact, and scalability.

The award builds on a standout year for the company, following their Graduate StartUp of the Year 2026 win at the UK StartUp Awards last month.

CybPass develops autonomous penetration testing and security assurance platforms specifically designed for unmanned and autonomous systems. As autonomous technologies rapidly expand across defense, transport, and aerospace sectors, CybPass’s AI-driven cybersecurity solutions ensure these vital systems remain protected against complex modern cyber threats.

“Winning the Leading Through Innovation Award is a proud moment for everyone at CybPass" said Dr Aryan Pasikhani, Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer at CybPass. 

"As a University of Sheffield spinout, we have been working to translate our research in AI and cybersecurity into practical technologies that help organisations identify vulnerabilities and strengthen the security of AI-enabled and autonomous systems."

"Seeing this work recognised by the wider business community is particularly rewarding, and demonstrates the potential for university research to address important real-world challenges.”

By transforming world-class research into commercial solutions, CybPass are addressing critical security challenges on a global scale while reinforcing the city’s reputation as a hub for tech innovation.

Read our recent interview with CEO and Co-Founder Pingchen Lin.