Tughrul Arslan

Professor Tughrul Arslan is a Turkish academic and entrepreneur with deep expertise in wireless communications and semiconductor engineering. Based at the University of Edinburgh, he is one of Scotland's most prominent researchers in RF systems and electronic engineering, with decades of experience bridging fundamental research and commercial application. His work laid the scientific foundations for Sofant Technologies, which he co-founded in 2011 alongside Ahmed El-Rayis and Nakul Haridas.

As a co-founder of Sofant Technologies, Professor Arslan helped translate over ten years of University of Edinburgh R&D into a commercially viable RF MEMS technology platform. Sofant's approach to phased array antenna design reduces power consumption by more than 70% compared to conventional semiconductor solutions, making it particularly well-suited for the demanding requirements of satellite communications and high-frequency 5G deployments. His academic credibility and industry connections have been central to securing partnerships with government agencies including the UK Space Agency and European Space Agency.

Sofant has raised over £6 million across multiple rounds from investors including EMV Capital, Scottish Enterprise, and Kelvin Capital. The company recently demonstrated the world's first Ka-band RF MEMS beamforming IC — a landmark achievement in the global wireless industry — and is now in the process of scaling production for commercial satellite and defence customers.