University spin-out company receives prestigious King’s Award for Enterprise

The King’s Awards are the highest official UK awards for British businesses. 

Railway safety 

The award for Geoptic, in the Innovation category, recognises the unique use and application of a harmless form of natural radiation to assess problems in railway infrastructures. 

This so-called cosmic ray muon technology can scan structures through thousands of metres of soil and underlying rock. It can then map variations in density caused by voids, shafts and collapsed structures that cannot be seen from within the tunnels. 

Before this new technology was developed, the integrity of our many Victorian railway tunnels was often tested using a basic and dangerous method of thumping the roof with a heavy hammer and listening to the sound created to try to estimate hidden holes. Geoptic’s muon detectors are now able to do that job on a continuous basis and with great precision without danger to people.  

Below the Earth 

Founded in 2020, Geoptic is a spin-out from Durham University, University of Sheffield and St Mary’s University, Twickenham, set up to safely reveal the hidden structures beneath the Earth’s surface. 

The company initially concentrated on developing technology to monitor geo-stored carbon dioxide below the North Sea. This was part of the UK’s commitment to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.  

A team of geoscientists, particle physicists and engineers developed a tool capable of being deployed in deep boreholes and at high temperatures. Testing occurred in Boulby Mine on the North Yorkshire coast. 

This cosmic ray muon imaging technology is now used by Geoptic in a wide range of sectors which face complex underground challenges.  

Spin-outs 

At Durham, we have a strong track record in fostering spin-out companies that translate cutting-edge research into impactful businesses.  

As part of the Northern Accelerator programme, we work with our partner universities in the North East of England to create real-world impact from our world-leading research and commercialise this innovation with benefits for the region’s economy. 

Find out more 

• Take a look at Geoptic’s website. 
• The King's Awards for Enterprise, previously known as The Queen's Award for Enterprise, is an awards programme for British businesses and other organisations who excel at international trade, innovation, sustainable development or promoting opportunity through social mobility.  
• Find out about the Northern Accelerator programme. 
• Geoptic involves researchers from our Department of Earth Sciences and Durham Energy Institute, led by Professor Jon Gluyas.  
• Our Department of Earth Sciences is ranked in the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. Visit our Earth Sciences webpages for more information on our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.