As the year comes to an end, I’m incredibly proud to reflect on the progress of our Commercialisation Journey - celebrating the people involved, the spinouts they’ve launched, the investment raised, and the positive impact that our founders are having in Sheffield and beyond. In 2026, the focus will remain on supporting innovators to explore their ideas and launch their businesses, while further strengthening connections with the investors, mentors and partners who enrich the Sheffield and South Yorkshire ecosystem.
Here are some examples that highlight the key milestones of our commercialisation activities this year – more stories of impact can be found on our news page.
Andy Hogben
Head of Commercialisation, University of Sheffield.
120 New Commercialisation Opportunities and 10 New Spinouts
In 2025, 120 new opportunities entered the Commercialisation Journey, with representatives from every faculty, as well as from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC).
This progress saw the incorporation of a record ten new spinouts:
- AmpliSi
Developing scalable, safe, and sustainable porous silicon technologies for next-generation batteries.
- Audaxis Medical
Delivering a safer, more biocompatible implanted solution for stress urinary incontinence in women.
- CybPass
Providing cybersecurity and digital access management solutions.
- DigitalCNC
Transforming precision manufacturing by leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies to improve quality, efficiency, and productivity.
- Kausalyze
Providing systems-level intelligence to help process manufacturers reduce downtime and increase operational efficiency.
- Mitotype Precision Labs
Transforming how we screen drugs for neurodegenerative diseases through identifying treatments capable of restoring mitochondrial function.
- Pixel-Flo
Developing an entirely new process for microLED mass transfer, the critical barrier to making microLEDs available for display screens at mass market price points.
- RNA Forge
Bridging the critical gap in mRNA drug development by combining deep technical expertise with cutting-edge manufacturing and analytical capabilities to accelerate its path from research to patient impact.
- SilViA Bio
Helping to make biomanufacturing faster, cheaper, and more reliable.
- M2I2
Launching a multiscale materials informatics tool that provides advanced predictive computational capabilities for manufacturing processes and in-service performance assessment.
14 New Patents
The University’s intellectual property (IP), developed through its research and innovation projects, provides the foundation for all our spinouts. In 2025, 14 new patents were secured in support of specific projects moving through the Commercialisation Journey.
£41 Million Raised by University Spinouts
During the 2024/25 academic year, University of Sheffield spinouts raised over £41 million in private investment, showing strong momentum and growing confidence from investors. This included backing from Sheffield Angels, marking their first investment in Sansanima - a company revolutionising vaccine safety without animal testing - and a £9 million funding round for breakthrough infrared sensor company, Phlux Technology, to expand into new markets. Northern Gritstone also invested a total of £10.1 million into our spinout companies.
The University’s spinout portfolio now employs 683 people and generated £84 million in combined turnover last academic year. We believe that the development of the Sheffield ecosystem will drive increased venture investment in the portfolio over the coming years, as many spinouts begin seeking capital to fund their growth.
Spinout Success at Sheffield Business Awards
Two spinout companies from the University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering were honoured at the 2025 Sheffield Business Awards, collectively taking home three awards between them.
Phlux Technology, co-founded by Dr Ben White, Professor Jo Shien Ng, and Professor Chee Hing Tan, won both “SME of the Year” and “Leading through Innovation” for its next-generation infrared sensor technology. Meanwhile, DigitalCNC, co-founded by Dr Rob Ward and David Wilkinson, was named “Start-Up Organisation of the Year” in recognition of the team’s work in developing cutting-edge AI technologies poised to transform precision manufacturing.
Digital CNC also received the “Best Business Startup” award at the Yorkshire Post Business Awards. These accolades celebrate the originality, creativity, and impact of Sheffield’s emerging spinout portfolio.
European Spinout Report: Sheffield ranked in UK Top 10 for Spinout Strength and Impact
The European Spinout Report 2025 highlighted that university spinouts across Europe now have a combined value of nearly $400 billion. Sheffield has been ranked 8th in the UK and 33rd in Europe for the strength and impact of its spinouts, particularly in Deep Tech and Life Sciences. This recognition reflects the robust internal network we have been working hard to build and highlights Sheffield’s growing position as a leading innovation hub in the UK. In particular, it recognises the momentum that spinout founders are creating through launching so many high-quality businesses.
Evolving the Commercialisation Journey
The Commercialisation Journey continued to expand this year, introducing dedicated Stage 1 cohorts for INSIGNEO and Health. We also launched a new package of Stage 4 training, completing the chain of end-to-end support from initial idea to spinout.
Meanwhile, the Northern Triangle Talent Network secured forward funding to ensure the next generation of innovators can continue to connect with mentors across Leeds, Manchester, and Sheffield.
The Sheffield Spine - Driving Innovation and Spinout Growth in Sheffield
The Sheffield Innovation Spine is a thriving, connected community of scaling businesses, co-locating in Sheffield city centre. In 2024/25, 33,584 sq ft of lab and workspace space was unlocked in the Spine, providing space for multiple spinouts to grow and create jobs in our city. In 2026, the Spine strategic roadmap will support more businesses to co-locate alongside the talent and research available in the city.
Companies in the Spine can now be tracked via the South Yorkshire Dealroom platform and the project is a partnership between University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield Technology Parks, Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
Sheffield Welcomes the Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering opened its sixth regional Enterprise Hub in Sheffield in late October 2025. The hub supports engineering and tech entrepreneurs across the Yorkshire & Humber region with funding, mentoring, and training, helping to grow high-value spinouts and retain skilled graduates. By building on Sheffield’s strengths in advanced manufacturing and research, the hub aims to strengthen the local deep tech ecosystem and foster innovation.
To find out more about the Commercialisation Journey, visit our website or contact the team directly at commercialisationteam@sheffield.ac.uk.