Two University of Sheffield spin-out companies from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering have been recognised at this year’s Sheffield Business Awards, taking home three awards between them. The awards celebrate outstanding achievements and innovation across the city’s business community.
Phlux Technology, co-founded by Professor Jo Shien Ng and Professor Chee Hing Tan, was born out of world-class photonics research at the University of Sheffield and develops advanced infrared sensors that improve performance in applications such as autonomous vehicles, telecommunications, and quantum technologies. The company won SME Organisation of the Year and the Leading through Innovation Award.
DigitalCNC, co-founded by Dr Rob Ward, provides cutting-edge digital manufacturing solutions that streamline precision engineering and automation. The company was handed the Start-up Organisation of the Year award. The spin-out was developed and validated through years of collaborative research and development with the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
Professor George Panoutsos, Head of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of both Phlux Technology and DigitalCNC for their success at the 2025 Sheffield Business Awards. These achievements demonstrate the strength of innovation within our School and the University’s support in translating research into real-world impact.
It’s fantastic to see our spin-out companies continuing to make a difference in industry and contributing to Sheffield’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced technology and manufacturing.”
Both companies originated from research at the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and have benefited from the University’s thriving innovation and enterprise ecosystem, which supports researchers in commercialising their ideas and collaborating with industry partners.
Organised by the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, the Sheffield Business Awards celebrate the city’s most successful, innovative, and community-minded organisations. The 2025 ceremony, held on 16 October 2025 at the Octagon Centre, recognised excellence across 17 categories, including innovation, sustainability, leadership, and growth.