Oxford University Innovation

The company was established in 1987 as Oxford University Research and Development Ltd and was renamed Isis Innovation a year later, becoming Oxford University Innovation in 2016.[6] Oxford University Innovation and its sub-divisions manage the university's intellectual property (IP) portfolio, working with University academics and researchers who wish to commercialise their work by identifying, protecting and marketing technologies through patenting and licensing, spin-off company formation, consulting and material sales.[7]

Oxford University Innovation provides researchers with commercial advice, funds patent applications and legal costs, negotiates third-party licences and spin-out company agreements, and identifies and manages consultancy opportunities for University of Oxford academics. Oxford University Innovation works on projects from all of the university's research divisions: medical sciences, mathematical, physical & life sciences, humanities and social sciences. Current and former members of the board of directors include Liam Dolan, Stephen G. Davies, Lionel Tarassenko, John Bell, Mike Brady and David Cooksey.[1][8]

Oxford University Innovation files, on average, one patent application each week, manages over 360 patent application families and has concluded over 450 licence agreements which has made Oxford University Innovation "one of the country’s most prolific technology transfer offices when it comes to agreeing licensing deals".[9] According to 2012 figures from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Oxford University Innovation is the 4th largest filer of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) patent applications in the UK[10] and the highest European university applicant.[11] Oxford University Innovation licenses technologies to companies who invest in developing and selling the products in a timely and ethical manner. Licensees are sought from all technology and business sectors on an international basis.[12]

Oxford University Innovation works with University researchers to develop new business opportunities, identifying and sourcing investment, management and professional services. Since 1988 Oxford University Innovation has assisted in the formation of more than 70 University spin-out companies, generating over £2 billion in unquoted and quoted market valuations for the University of Oxford. Notable spin-outs include:

• NaturalMotion – film and computer games animation developer, known for their Euphoria software used in Rockstar North's title Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV).
• Intelligent Sustainable Energy – Company creating advanced analysis software for domestic smart meters[13]
• Oxford GlycoSciences – biotechnology firm founded by Raymond Dwek
• Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium – a joint venture between the University of Oxford and Emergent BioSolutions formed to develop a new tuberculosis vaccine with the aid of AERAS.[14]
• Oxitec – a biotechnology company which develops genetically modified insects to assist in insect control.
• Oxford Nanopore Technologies a company using nanopore sequencing founded by Hagan Bayley et al.[15]
• Oxford Photovoltaics a solar energy company using photovoltaics and perovskite solar cells founded by Henry Snaith et al.[16]
• PowderJect Pharmaceuticals (1993–2003) – a vaccine, drug and diagnostics delivery company founded by Brian Bellhouse.
• Immunocore – immunotherapy company developing soluble TCR-based therapies against cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disease.
• Vaccitech – biotechnology company developing vaccines and immunotherapies for infectious diseases and cancer, such as hepatitis B, HPV and prostate cancer.[17]

Oxford University Innovation is split into three divisions, dedicated to different areas of knowledge transfer. Alongside the central Technology Transfer group that deals exclusively with disclosures and patent applications from University of Oxford researchers, Oxford University Innovation manages: