Knowledge transfer

Isis Innovation, the University's wholly-owned technology transfer company, was founded in 1988, and has pioneered the successful commercial exploitation of academic research and invention. It is now the most successful university technology transfer company in the UK, filing, on average, one new patent per week.

• More than 60 Oxford spin-out companies have been formed, beginning with Oxford Instruments in 1959, which today is a global leader in advanced instrumentation, employing over 1,500 people in 16 countries. Its products are used world-wide for scientific research, analysis and healthcare, and the company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1983.
• The combined value of Oxford's spin-out companies has reached £2 billion, using quoted market capitalisations and investor valuations for unquoted companies.
  
• The creation of these new spin-out companies benefits local economic development and has created many new jobs in the region.

The companies have spun out from a variety of departments and are developing a broad range of innovative products and technologies, including:

• drugs technology based on the body's natural biological response to oxygen deficiency (Reox, 2003)
• artificial high performance fibres based on the principles used by spiders and insects (Spinox, 2002)
• realistic character animation for games and films based on biology and computer science (NaturalMotion, 2001)
• test strips which give instant diagnoses from a single drop of blood (Oxford Biosensors, 2000)
• computer games which help deaf children (Mindweavers, 2000)

The University's Challenge Seed Fund (UCSF), managed by Isis Innovation, was named University Challenge Fund of the Year 2003 at the Investor Allstars Awards, run by corporate finance advisers GP Capital. The Fund has helped to kick-start several spin-out companies and fostered the commercialisation of research, investing £4m since its launch in 1999.

Begbroke Science Park offers space for emerging science and technology companies to grow, close to the heart of the University. In addition, the Centre for Innovation and Enterprise provides serviced office and laboratory accommodation for high-tech start up companies, and the Institute of Advanced Technologies houses applied, interdisciplinary University research. All of this activity is coordinated with the main science area. 

Oxford Spin-Out Equity Management (OSEM) came into existence in August 2008; the Director, Chris Towler, reports to the Finance Director of the University. James Mallinson, the Portfolio Manager and Carla Inness, the administrator complete the small team of three. OSEM manages the University's interests in its spin-out companies proactively and reactively.
OSEM has three main roles:

• Strategic: Identifying opportunities to optimise the return on the University's investment and providing professional assistance to companies as they develop.
• Tactical: Supporting companies by dealing with immediate or short-term issues, such as funding or access to other support networks.
• Procedural: Dealing with documentation relating to consents, fundraising and exits.

In fulfilling these roles, OSEM calls on its own team's expertise, its extensive networks of contacts in the financial, commercial and scientific worlds, and its own investment fund which it manages on behalf of the University of Oxford. 

Below are links to examples of innovative activities of individual Oxford academics or those with spin-offs based on University research in science and technology. These case studies were written by Sir Douglas Hague, founder of Templeton College's Strategic Leadership programme and former government economic adviser.

• Case studies homepage
  
• Professor John Bell, Powderject Ltd, Oxagen Ltd and Avidex Ltd.
• Professor Raymond Dwek, Oxford GlycoSciences Ltd.
• Professor Graham Richards, Oxford Molecular Ltd and Inhibox Ltd.
• Karl Chapman, CRT Group plc and AdviserPlus Business Services.
• Sir Martin Wood, Oxford Instruments, The Oxford Trust, Oxford Innovation Ltd.
• Audrey, Lady Wood, Oxford Instruments, The Oxford Trust, Oxford Innovation Ltd.
• Professor Sir Mike Brady, Mirada Ltd.
• Rowan Douglas, WIRE Ltd.
• Colin Webb and Andrew Kearsley, Oxford Lasers.

In 1999, 27 of the University's colleges established the £11 million Isis College Fund, which provides second- and third-round financing for University spin-out companies.

Research at Oxford University produces technologies and ideas with great potential for commercial use. Knowledge arising out of research can be licensed to interested parties through Isis Innovation. Licensees are sought from all technology and business sectors on an international basis.

Technologies available for licensing cover a wide range of areas, from life and physical sciences projects to general business innovation ideas.

Oxford University Consulting, part of Isis Innovation Ltd., provides direct, cost-effective consultancy, and customises and manages each project to realise a company's business goals. Areas of expertise include problem solving, data analysis, expert evaluation, due diligence, and management and business development.

The Oxford University Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) Office offers a range of services to help establish and maintain effective knowledge transfer partnerships between Oxford University and businesses in the region and beyond.

The KTP Office is part of the Begbroke Directorate, which is the administrative centre of the Oxford University Begbroke Science Park and acts as a gateway to the University's research expertise and facilities.

The Knowledge Transfer Programme is developing a range of workshops, short courses, CPD, network events and other activities to address the specific needs of all our stakeholders.

The University sponsors, and is the primary force behind, Venturefest, Oxford's International Fair for Entrepreneurs. It has a reputation as one of the most influential forums for the advancement of high-tech and knowledge-based enterprise.