The Queen has recognised a host of Sussex companies for innovation and enterprise.

Firms making brain scanners, electric thermometers and military protection received Queen’s Awards for enterprise yesterday, shining a light on the breadth of Sussex companies.

An impressive nine companies scooped awards, with Scientifica, 7thSense Design, Aspen Pumps and Checkatrade.com winning in the innovation category.

Meanwhile Electronic Temperature Instruments, D3O, Elekta and Quorum Technologies won in international trade, and Nikwax won in sustainable development.

Scientifica, based in Uckfield, makes scanners to research the effect of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s on the brain.

It is the firm’s second Queen’s Award after also collecting a gong for international trade in 2012.

The innovation award recognises its multiphoton imaging system, which allows researchers to take images of brain cells deep into tissue.

Scientifica managing director Mark Johnson said: “This award is fantastic news for us and we are confident that sales of our groundbreaking multiphoton system will grow even faster around the world as the result of this.

“This is a really significant achievement to have our flagship product recognised with such a prestigious award.”

The Queen’s Award is given on the advice of the Prime Minister, who is assisted by an advisory committee including representatives of Government, industry and commerce.

Electronic Temperature Instruments, based in Worthing, is the UK leader in electronic thermometers and probes, exporting worldwide and also picked up its second award.

Managing director Peter Webb said: “Receiving a Queen’s Award for a second time is a fantastic achievement for the company.

“By keeping our manufacturing and research and development in the UK we have been able to support our local economy whilst successfully growing the business.”

D3O, based in Portslade, makes shock-absorbing materials for the military, police and professional sports.

Its protective products were first used during the 2006 Winter Olympics in ski race suits for the US and Canadian teams, and it is developing new helmets for soldiers, to reduce the impact of bomb blasts.

Chief executive Stuart Sawyer said: “We are delighted to be recognised for our work and significant growth in exporting our technology.

“This comes at a very exciting time for our company as we prepare to enter our next stage of growth.

“Continued international expansion is key to our strategy with over 40% of overseas sales currently being generated from North America.”

Quorum Technologies, based in Ringmer, makes components for electron microscopes and has had a rapid expansion, increasing exports since it formed in 2001.

Managing director Lee Howell said: “We are delighted to have been given this highly prestigious award which is wholly attributable to the focus, dedication and expertise of our workforce.

“The award is not only a huge tribute to the whole company, but also to our global network of distributors who sell and give excellent support to our many customers around the world.”

Checkatrade.com, a trade vetting service based in Selsey, was the first company to post customer reviews online.

After starting in 1998 it now boasts a turnover in excess of £9.2m and more than 14,200 carefully vetted and monitored trade members all over the country.

Managing director Kevin Byrne said: “When I started Checkatrade.com in my garden shed I never imagined I’d be accepting the Queen’s Award.

“I am deeply honoured and can’t wait to meet Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace.

“Nowadays review sites are everywhere, but in Checkatrade.com’s beginning, 15 years ago, the internet was new and there were none that I know of.

“To be recognised by royalty feels incredible.

“I can’t begin to explain how much this means to me and my team.”

Elekta, based in Crawley, manufactures radiotherapy treatment for cancer.

In the last year it has increased its number of employees from 537 to 595.

Elekta recently purchased a £4 million site and is preparing to make major investments in Sussex.

7thSense Design, based in Upper Beeding, invented the Delta Media Server – a way of creating high-quality audio-visual presentations for display screens.

The innovation has cut the costs and greatly improved the quality of customised presentations in museums, theme parks and live events.

Aspen Pumps, from Hailsham, creates pumps for air conditioning installation.

The innovative technology has antisiphoning, sound-dampening qualities and is exported to 100 countries worldwide.

Nikwax, from Wadhurst, makes and exports waterproofing for outdoor clothing.

The environmentally-friendly firm rejects harmful chemicals, recycles waste, harvests rainwater, purchases renewable energy and invests in solar power.