Silicon Valley Comes to Oxford

The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, in line with its pre-eminence as a world centre of new knowledge, ideas and innovation.

Accordingly, Oxford University has the highest number of academics working in five star departments of any UK university and its researchers have won over 40 Nobel prizes. The University is at the centre of one of Europe’s most innovative regions, and the County of Oxfordshire has arguably the most advanced innovation support system in Europe. Even before the innovation system, the University’s scientists and engineers identified market opportunities resulting in the creation of iconic companies such as Oxford Instruments Plc in 1959.

At present, Oxfordshire’s growth includes 1500 high tech companies with links to the University, and over 100 Oxford spinout companies with a combined market capitalisation of over £2 Billion. Four University spin outs – Oxford Catalysts, VASTox, Evolutec and Physiomics recently raised hundreds of millions of pounds on AIM floatation. These enterprises follow in the wealth-creating footsteps of Oxford University originated plc-listed companies: Oxford Instruments, Research Machines, Medisense (bought by Abbot Laboratories in 2002), Oxford Asymmetry (merged with Evotech of Germany in 2001), Oxford Glycosciences (bought by Cell tech and in turn UCB) and PowderJect (bought by Chiron in 2003).

Leading soft innovation companies formed by Oxford University graduates include McKinsey & Co, Pizza Express, Majestic Wines and Lastminute.com.

“We have some of the best people imaginable from the Silicon Valley world.”

Colin Mayer, Dean, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford