Begbroke Business Park

Begbroke Park is a pioneering development where science and industry meet. In this unique environment, world-class scientists work alongside colleagues from industry, decision-makers and entrepreneurs, to translate cutting-edge research into commercial opportunities. The Department of Materials, for instance, is designing new materials for aerospace, and for energy generation and storage applications, while the BegbrokeNano group provides a focal point for nanotechnology research and development in partnership with industry, providing unrivalled access to world-class expertise and the latest processing and characterisation technology. Additional activities on site include the Environmental Knowledge Transfer network, the Knowledge Transfer Partnership Office and the Oxford Super Computer.

Located west of Kidlington, about five miles north of the University, the Begbroke Science Park site was purchased by the University in 1998 for the expansion of research activities which do not necessarily require a location in central Oxford. Since then, the site has doubled in size, with the development of an Institute of Advanced Technology (IAT) undertaking cross-disciplinary applied research. The IAT currently houses nine different research groups from six departments. The Centre for Innovation and Enterprise, which offers serviced laboratory and office accommodation to high-tech start-up companies, was fully occupied within a year of opening in 2006, and continues to operate with a waiting list. Future plans include a doubling of the available space for University research and spin-out companies.