Metasonixx, a spin-out company from the University of Sussex and University of Bristol, has been awarded the 2024 Institute of Physics (IOP) Business Award for the development of acoustic metamaterial panels to help with noise reduction and ventilation, in spaces like offices and hospitals.  

Led by CEO Prof Gianluca Memoli, of the University of Sussex, Metasonixx focuses on technology to shape sound in new and innovative ways, delivering sound to specific areas or individuals or cancelling out unwanted sound.  

During the 2020 lockdown, the Metasonixx team obtained a UKRI grant to solve a pressing issue: noise in hospital surroundings. Noise had a severe impact on patient healing and staff wellbeing, and conventional treatments were simply ineffective. 

The work led to the creation of innovative acoustic metamaterial panels — modular, lightweight, space-efficient, and environmentally friendly. These panels were designed to  block noise while also allowing airflow, enabling improvements to noise management and ventilation, and facilitating net-zero industrial ventilators and heat pumps.  

As the team continue to develop the technology, panels are now being tested as desk separators in noisy office environments around the world, from QINETIQ and Chevron to Cartier and Autostrade Italia. With 70% of offices worldwide considered noisy open spaces, the potential for change is immense. 

Now, in the latest IOP Business Awards, Metasonixx has received a Business Start-Up Award, which is awarded to young companies with a great business idea founded on a physics invention, with the potential for business growth and significant societal impact. 

Prof Gianluca Memoli, Reader in Sound-Based Interactions at the University of Sussex and CEO of Metasonixx says:  

“Our products are based on acoustic metamaterials: they don’t absorb or reflect noise, but cancel noise, like interferential filters do for light. Like noise-cancelling headphones, but without electronics. Physics is embedded in a modular material, which blocks noise while letting light and/or air through. The perfect solution for heat pumps, which are becoming a need for our country.  

“We are extremely thrilled by this award, which celebrates seven years of multidisciplinary work, first in our parent universities and now in our company. You should have seen the celebrations when we got the news! We feel this IOP award will fuel our rocket with energy, towards greater success.” 

The IOP seeks to raise public awareness and understanding of physics, inspire people to develop their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of physics and support the development of a diverse and inclusive physics community. 

The IOP Business Awards recognise the vital role physics and physicists play in our economy, creating jobs and growth by powering innovation to meet the challenges facing us today, ranging from climate change to better healthcare and food production. 

Find out more about Metasonixx, and other University of Sussex spin-outs: https://www.sussex.ac.uk/collaborate/business/investment-licence