Innovation and technology Our transformative research, enterprise and state-of-the-art facilities at Sheffield are united in addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. Find out how we’re driving cutting edge technologies and solutions. You are here Home Research Innovation and technology A groovy way to boost solar power efficiency While solar energy is renewable, the manufacturing process for panels is wasteful. Professor David Lidzey and Power Roll Ltd have developed a solar cell design that is more efficient and cuts production costs. Changing the future of renewable energy A chilling way to reduce train delays Every year leaves on train lines cause delays to train services. Professor Roger Lewis and his team from Mechanical Engineering have developed a new cleaning technology that is on track to saving the rail industry millions. Leaf-busting tech The hidden side of retail returns The rising cost of returned products is a burden on Britain’s retailers and the environment. Sheffield researchers have been working with businesses in the retail supply chain to reduce costs to the company while keeping high-quality products out of landfill. Sending less to landfill The power of powder From instant coffee to washing up detergent, powders are part of our everyday life. But have you ever thought about how they are made and why some dissolve quicker than others? Professor Agba Salman is at the forefront of powder restructuring and particle science in academia and industry. Restructuring particles Revolutionising vehicle efficiency with additive particle technology There are 38.4 million cars on the road in the UK alone. Together they drive over 300 billion miles a year, pumping out tons of carbon dioxide as they go. More efficient petrol and diesel engines Bees are helping design the next generation of autonomous technology Our experts have gone back to nature to find a solution to the problem of machine learning. Reverse engineering the brain of an insect New fitness tracker for businesses Managing manufacturing operations is often seen as a 'dark art', but a newly-developed fitness tracker for machines could provide the data and insights needed for businesses to succeed. More on our fitness tracker Reconstructing a nuclear meltdown in Sheffield With both Chernobyl and Fukushima sitting idly waiting to be deconstructed, Dr Claire Corkhill and her team are attempting to recreate Chernobyl’s meltdown in Sheffield, in a bid to safely deactivate both power plants. Recreating Chernobyl’s meltdown Protecting social media users from harmful content *Trigger warning: this article includes descriptions of harmful content relating to mental health issues, including but not limited to suicide, self-harm and eating disorders* Protecting users Sheffield’s spin-out to build the quantum technology of the future The second quantum revolution is coming, but who will be the first to champion it? AegiQ is a University of Sheffield spin-out company with a new enabling technology and over two decades of quantum knowledge behind it. The second quantum revolution Supporting students, supporting industry Initially a spin-out company from the University of Sheffield, Magnomatics provides placements to our talented engineering students. Placements to our talented engineering students How two engineers are solving the UK's number one water quality complaint It’s a glorious day in June and the only thing you need is a crisp glass of clean water fresh from the tap. Ordinarily this wouldn't be a problem, but occasionally, like today, it’s a different story. Getting clarity The invisibles: tracking solar energy A few years ago the UK's electricity came almost entirely from a few dozen power stations. Today, solar electricity comes from nearly a million homes, schools, hospitals, supermarkets, factories and fields. How do you track a million invisible electricity creators? Tracking solar power for the National Grid What happens when a bomb explodes? Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are used around the world with huge consequences. What happens when a bomb explodes and how can this information save lives? Watch the video Saving lives from the top of the world’s deadliest volcanoes By adapting the same technology in your smartphone, researchers at the University of Sheffield have created a cost-saving alternative to high-tech remote sensing cameras used to predict volcanic eruptions. Predicting eruptions with a smartphone Freeing up patient information for research How do we safely balance our need for privacy with the need to advance medical treatments? Dr Vicky Chico's research has influenced healthcare data policies and NHS guidance. Informing research while maintaining public trust Growing ambitions The AMRC has been committed to creating centres of excellence in the advanced manufacturing sector since it was founded in 2001. It continues to grow, with recent developments in the North West, the Midlands, Wales and Korea. Centres of excellence Tunnel vision: Using cosmic rays to safely inspect railways There are hundreds of underground railway tunnels in the UK, but inspecting them requires sending down a team of operators into often unpleasant conditions. Research by Professor Lee Thompson is at the heart of Geoptic; a collaborative spin-out that uses patented technology to examine tunnels and locate hidden voids. An X-ray for tunnels Democratising biology research The study of single molecules is fundamental for developing new treatments but expensive equipment creates barriers for research. One spinout company is championing open research with cheap, user friendly tools to make molecular research accessible across the world. Exciting Instruments
