Brighton's Metasonixx hails Institute of Physics award

Metasonixx, a firm founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the universities of Sussex and Bristol, revealed it had received the Institute of Physics (IOP) Business Award during a ceremony at Parliament.

The company is behind acoustic metamaterial panels, which are modular, lightweight and environmentally friendly. They do not absorb or reflect sound but cancel it, using the same physics used in noise-cancelling headphones but without electronics.

The panels enable the creation of industrial ventilators and heat pumps, which align with net-zero carbon goals, the East Sussex-based company said.

The award highlights the firm as a leading force in applied physics and celebrates the significant impact of its pioneering technologies on sustainable industrial practices.

"The IOP Business Award is not just a recognition of our achievements; it’s a catalyst for our future," the company said.

"This award will play a crucial role in securing the seed investment needed to expand our IP into new markets.

"With collaborations already underway with companies like QINETIQ, BEKO, Portal Devices, and Movyon, we envision our technology being integrated into solutions everywhere," it added.

During the 2020 shutdown, a significant moment came when the firm
obtained a UKRI grant to solve a pressing issue, namely, noise in hospital surroundings, which had a severe impact on patient healing and staff well-being.

Metasonixx's work then led to the creation of innovative acoustic metamaterial panels.