Nine new early-stage science and technology start-up businesses have taken space in The Oxford Trust’s two innovation centres during Autumn, as Oxford continued to see strong demand from businesses needing R&D labs, technical workspace and flexible office space.
Companies that have moved into the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington’s Health and Life Sciences district are Human Centric, ProspectSoft, and LabMedExpert, which have taken a combined 3,119 sq ft of space.
Human Centric is a University of Oxford spin-out improving neurology drug discovery by bringing more human data to the process. They are experts in developing, analysing and combining data from induced pluripotent stem cells, large-scale genetics studies, and population health data which allows them to validate safe and effective drug targets for neurological diseases where current models aren’t working.
ProspectSoft is an innovative and award-winning UK-based SaaS CRM and eCommerce company, which provides sales and marketing software to help B2B wholesalers, distributors and manufacturers drive growth. With over 5,000 SME users worldwide, Prospect CRM is recognised as the number one CRM for B2B product businesses.
LabMedExpert has set-up in Oxford to offer training primarily for biomedical science (and other science related degrees) graduates to fulfil the shortage of experienced biomedical scientists. Their training also extends to professionals that are interested in upskilling in histology or microbiology.
LabMedExpert’s training co-ordinator Kunle Akabi said: “LabMedExpert is excited to set up a new arm in Oxford. It is really important for us to have the right environment to attract trainees onto our programmes to upskill medical laboratory professionals and the Wood Centre for Innovation has it all – great facilities and a modern building set in a beautiful woodland within the city of Oxford.”
NAG (Numerical Algorithms Group), Quantum Dice, Berlin Brands Group (BBG), This Great Adventure, Matter PR and Curiosity Software, have taken space in the Oxford Centre for Innovation on New Road in the city centre to total of 2,068 sq ft.
NAG provides industry-leading numerical software and technical services to banking and finance, energy, engineering, and market research, as well as academic and government institutions. Known across the world for the NAG® Library, the most rigorous and robust collection of numerical algorithms available, NAG also offers automatic differentiation, machine learning, and mathematical optimisation products, as well as world-class technical consultancy across HPC and Cloud HPC, code porting and optimisation, and other areas of numerical computing. NAG is headquartered in Oxford, UK with offices in the UK, US, EU and Asia.
Quantum Dice’s move has created a mini quantum hub at the centre alongside ColdQuanta and their development of a quantum gyroscope. A spin-out from the University of Oxford’s Department of Physics, Quantum Dice is developing the world’s first compact, completely embedded, random number generator for encryption and cybersecurity. In an increasingly digitised world, they expect to be connected through 75.4 billion devices by 2025. This means that protecting the security of data will become an essential task, whether it is for a government facility, private company or an individual. One of the critical components of any encryption system is the random number generator.
Berlin Brands Group, which creates, builds and scales brands globally, has selected the Oxford Centre for Innovation as their UK headquarters thanks to the city’s impressive science, technology and innovation credentials.
This Great Adventure is a digital company collaborating with museums, community and cultural heritage organisations and creative businesses in the UK and around the world, exploring new forms of physical-digital storytelling, including novel and emergent creative AR // VR // XR technologies.
Matter PR is a specialist communications and PR agency dedicated to the science, engineering and technology community.
Curiosity Software has 25 years’ experience in building innovative test data technologies and has now launched the world’s first highly-automated open testing platform.
Huw Price, managing director, Curiosity Software said: “As a growing organisation built on a history of innovation in Oxfordshire, the Oxford Centre of Innovation is the perfect fit for Curiosity. We thrive on close collaborations, working seamlessly within and across organisations. The Centre’s vibrant start-up community is therefore the ideal setting to invent new solutions to pressing challenges in software testing and delivery.”
The newest companies have joined a community of 34 science and tech businesses at the centres focusing on a range of specialities including medical imaging, AI, quantum physics and biotech.
The centres have workspace ranging from 100 sq ft to 5,000 sq ft from virtual office space and co-working space in Barclays Eagle Lab, through to large offices, technical workspace and R&D labs. Companies also gain from business and admin support through Oxford Innovation’s Innovation Director and those working in the newly converted lab space share an on-site technician.
Steve Burgess, chief executive of The Oxford Trust said: “We are pleased to see a new cohort of young science and tech-based businesses join our thriving start-up community. Our focus is to support innovation and it is great to see so many exciting ideas evolve in our region. We hope to see these companies flourish and grow into successful enterprises – as previous companies we’ve supported in our centres like Navenio, Oxford Computer Consultants, Mirada Medical and more recently Ultromics.”
In addition, Barclays Eagle Lab, based at the Wood Centre for Innovation, has also had several new sign-ups in this autumn for companies looking for co-working space in their business accelerator.
The companies include Nexgen Healthcare Communications Ltd, The Smart Team, Innovation Gateway, DBKT Coaching, Traced App, Lawrie IP, Outdoor Automation Limited, Productiv Solutions Ltd, Magic Subscriptions Ltd, Pivot Digital Health, Laboris Solutions, Rumbly, Fruto studio, Safa Global Ltd.
Nicki Campling, Barclays Eagle Labs ecosystem manager, added: “We are very pleased to see lots of new and dynamic businesses joining us. We are excited to see how Eagle Labs can support them on their scale-up journeys.”
