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The University's economic impact

The University is committed to its integral role in the economic life of the city and region:

  • The University, its colleges and Oxford University Press (OUP) are, together, the largest employer in Oxford and second largest employer in Oxfordshire, supporting more than 18,000 jobs and injecting £750 million annually into the regional economy.
  • More than nine million tourists, attracted by the University, visit Oxford each year, spending £589 million and supporting 13,700 jobs.
  • Oxfordshire’s growth rate in high-tech jobs is the highest in the UK – many connected to the University.
  • Student society, Oxford Entrepreneurs, is the largest free business society in Europe.  

Widely regarded as one of the best technology transfer offices in the country

Lambert Review of Business University Collaboration

Spin-outs from Oxford

Isis Innovation is the University’s wholly-owned technology transfer company and has spun out 70 companies since 2000. Oxford Instruments, spun-out in 1959, is now a global leader in high-tech industry tools and systems, employing more than 1,900 people in 13 countries.

Isis InnovationUniversity researchers invent and develop technologies that Isis commercialises by licensing and formation of spin-out companies, drawing investment to the region and creating jobs. Local companies also have access to academic consultancy and services, facilitated by Oxford University Consulting, which is a part of Isis. 

Recent University of Oxford spinout companies

  • Oxford Vacmedix was formed to increase the effectiveness of vaccines in providing immunity against both infectious diseases and cancer with the potential to reduce the cost of vaccine development significantly.
    Oxford Vacmedix UK has formed a joint venture in Hong Kong with Chinese investors, enabling the majority of the early stage validation of the Oxford technology to be supported by Chinese private investment and government funding. 
  • Oxehealth allows a patient’s health to be monitored using a webcam and a software application. The software detects a patient’s heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation even in artificial light without the need for any physical contact or additional hardware, allowing health monitoring to be undertaken wherever a patient is – even at home. This is Isis’ first spin-out in conjunction with the NHS Trust.
  • Oxford Cancer Biomarkers identifies those patients who are likely to benefit most from anti-cancer drugs, and identifies quickly which treatment is best for each person. Founded by scientists Professor Nick La Thangue and Professor David Kerr of the University of Oxford, the company attracted £3m investment in the company from global biopharmaceutical services company Quintiles.
  • Oxford Imaging Detectors is developing high performance scientific imaging detectors capable of studying structures and processes at the atomic level. Initially concentrating on electron microscopy, potential future applications exist in a number of other areas, including X-ray, other microscopy techniques, and machine vision.
  • OrganOx is commercialising a device for sustaining organs outside the body using whole blood at normal body temperatures. The OrganOx™ metra™ normothermic liver preservation device has successfully been used in two liver transplant procedures, the first time in the world this has been achieved.
  • Oxford Catalysts was spun out of the University in 2005 after almost 20 years of University research reached the point of commercialisation. Oxford Catalysts is now a leading innovator for clean fuels and employs 80 people in Oxford and the USA. 

Cultivating relationships with the business world

Oxford University works in partnership with many organisations in a variety of different forms exchanging knowledge, providing access to its facilities and resources, and in research collaborations exploring areas of common interest. Often partnerships start small and grow in the extent of their interest and activity. You can find out more about ways to engage with Oxford from the Open for Business pages, or by contacting a member of the Knowledge Exchange team. Through the University’s links with nearby business, with the Local Enterprise Partnership, and via initiatives such as Venturefest , Oxford@Said and the Student Hub, the University builds relationships, sharing knowledge and contributing to the economic, political and social impact of the region  

  • Venturefest Oxfordshire’s annual fair for high-tech entrepreneurs brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, inventors, financiers, business angels and supporters to promote ideas, introduce potential funding, encourage networking and open up new markets.
  • Oxford@Saïd Oxford academics discuss their research in everyday language in twice-termly seminars at the Saïd Business School with local businesses and the professional community, students and staff.

 

Other centres of University economic contribution include

  • the University’s Begbroke Science Park, where scientific researchers and start-up high-tech companies work side by side.
  • Oxford Science Park, owned by Magdalen College, designed to grow innovative, knowledge-based companies capitalising on research links with the University and other local institutions.
  • Conference Oxford which arranges around 1,000 non-university conferences each year. 

Saïd Business School

Graduate prospectus

Many students cross continents to study at the school, particularly from North America and China. The current class has students from 47 different countries. But the business school has a regional impact too:  it runs an open business programme that offers seminars and courses on entrepreneurship, free of charge to the local community as well as the wider University, building bridges between the University and the local economy. To date more than 12,000 people have attended part of this programme.

Did you know arrow

Founded in 1621 the University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. With the Harcourt Arboretum, it promotes learning and glorifies nature with people of all ages and backgrounds visiting for leisure and to learn about plants and their importance in the world

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