Advanced Oxford

The Campaign for Cowley Branch Line is being launched today, Thursday 27 March, to advocate for the re-opening of the Cowley Branch Line to passengers. The rail project would transform public transport for local communities, unlock new housing, create new jobs and support Oxford’s net-zero ambitions. The campaign, led by ARC Oxford, the Ellison Institute of Technology Oxford and The Oxford Science Park (TOSP), is calling on local businesses to lend their support in a collective effort to ensure that this essential transport link is prioritised in regional infrastructure planning. The rail line, which has been closed to the public for 60 years, could be sustainably, quickly and affordably restored to create two new stations in East Oxford, providing a nine-minute journey time to the city centre, and a direct service to London Marylebone running twice hourly. For more information, visit- https://lnkd.in/eZtvJM6s

The Rosalind Franklin Institute has been announced as the first founding member for the new CO:LABS facility, a pioneering biotech accelerator dedicated to fostering innovation and scaling early-stage ventures. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone in bolstering the resources and expertise available to emerging biotech companies at CO:LABS, set to officially open its doors in 2026 at Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The Franklin is at the forefront of creating innovative new technologies to address today’s most pressing health research challenges – integrating physical sciences and engineering with life sciences. As a founding member, the Franklin will play a crucial role in supporting CO:LABS resident start-ups, offering a range of tailored initiatives aimed at advancing both scientific and commercial success. Through the partnership, the Franklin will: deliver seminars and workshops – offering insights into scientific research and industry trends, provide coaching and mentorship sessions to guide innovators through technical and strategic challenges, share scientific expertise and novel research findings, and provide guidance on technical, regulatory, and commercial aspects of biotech innovation. Read more here- https://lnkd.in/eB6tffVB

We are looking forward to this opportunity to share our analysis and discuss our recommendations and our emerging action plan.

We welcome the news that the Transport Secretary has announced that Chiltern Railways will run services on the first section of East West Railway Company. Chiltern Railways will launch services later this year which will connect Oxford, Oxford Parkway, Bicester, Winslow, Bletchley and Milton Keynes Central. This new section of line forms a critical part of the Government’s mission to unlock inclusive growth along the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. The new service will transform economic and social connections in the region, by providing a regular train service along this line for the first time in nearly 60 years. Initial services will use Class 196 trains which have been leased from West Midlands Railway. Chiltern Railways will also be managing a newly constructed East West Rail station in Winslow where a new car park, booking office and platforms have been built. Chiltern Railway’s services will also call at two new high-level platforms which have been built on the flyover at Bletchley station. Read more here- https://lnkd.in/eb-Hs6Hn

Access to finance, especially private capital, continues to be a critical issue in ensuring the success of Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem. Sarah Haywood, Managing Director of Advanced Oxford, will present the findings and recommendations from Advanced Oxford’s green paper, produced last year to increase and diversify the supply of investment into Oxfordshire-based science companies. The event is free to attend and open to all, and is being hosted by Oxford Brookes University. Join the discussion and hear about some of the things that are happening in response to the findings from our research.   Date: Wednesday, 2 April, 16:30-19:00 | Location: John Henry Brookes Building, Gipsy Lane Headington OX3 0BP Register here: https://lnkd.in/eVrnWS7c

TreQ, a US-based quantum computing start-up, has announced it has moved to a new production facility in Milton Park (Oxfordshire). TreQ builds its quantum systems to enable technology leaders at FTSE 100 companies, universities and research entities to unlock quantum computing’s transformative potential. Its innovative open-architecture systems are upgradable and extensible, which improves capital efficiency and technology resiliency. They plan to build their first quantum computer under the TreQ brand at their new facility in 2025. Its core team of half a dozen senior engineers and executives includes several experienced quantum veterans–most are UK citizens. In fact, before working with TreQ, several of its team members built the UK’s first commercial quantum computer—and then almost a dozen more systems worldwide. The company decided to begin operations in the UK because of national initiatives focused on commercialising quantum and because half of the current quantum computing market is in Europe. TreQ picked Milton Park because of its state-of-the-art campus, its worker- and family-friendly environment and its welcoming team. For more information on Milton Park, please visit: www.miltonpark.com

It's a wrap - the last of our current set of events to share Hannah Isabelle T.'s research (Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Brookes Business School), to mark #IWD. Thanks to the amazing panel Pete Wilder, Simonetta Manfredi, Danuta Jeziorska, Annelise Vuidepot, PhD, Mira Kassouf for your insight and reflections, and to our colleagues at University of Oxford EnSpire Oxford team, and BioEscalator for the fantastic organisation. Of course, still much more to do to share our research on Gender Inclusion and why it matters to the bottom line of science and tech businesses...

Advanced Oxford member Perspectum Ltd continues to lead the way in precision medicine and imaging solutions, with new research demonstrating that Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a cost-effective method for diagnosing and managing Steatotic Liver Disease (SLD). This latest multinational study underscores the company’s commitment to transforming liver health through innovative, non-invasive diagnostics. The study, which evaluated MRI’s economic benefits across multiple healthcare systems, found that Perspectum’s imaging technology not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also reduces healthcare costs by minimising the need for expensive and invasive interventions. These findings reinforce the company’s role in delivering scalable solutions that enhance patient care while optimising resources for healthcare providers. Congratulations to the team at Perspectum on this study and the publication in Nature. Read the full story, details of the study and the Nature paper here- https://lnkd.in/eQpe4Gs7

Seven science and tech start-ups and SMEs are to move from The Oxford Trust’s current Oxford Centre for Innovation to its new location at Blue Boar Court, Alfred Street, in Oxford’s city centre. The Oxford Trust has secured a 10-year lease for Blue Boar Court to house its Oxford Centre for Innovation to continue to support the growth and development of science and technology start-ups. Originally the gymnasium for the University of Oxford, the newly refurbished centre will provide 13,000 sq ft of modern, well-designed private offices, meeting rooms and co-working space over four floors. This is the fourth location for the Oxford Centre for Innovation in The Oxford Trust’s 40-year history. The companies to relocate are Oxford Drug Design, which focuses on novel disease targets; Optellum, specialising in solutions for detecting, tracking and assessing risk for lung disease; quantum technology company Q-Control; and Aether, experts in air quality control. In addition, start-up service providers which will move include Visual Meaning, a specialist consultancy; Mathys & Squire LLP, an intellectual IP law firm; and Oxford Innovation Space which manages innovation centres and provides expert business support and finance for innovation businesses. There will also be co-working and meeting spaces and a virtual office package for smaller start-ups. Read more- https://lnkd.in/efwmhR7R

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Olly Glover, MP for Didcot and Wantage, MEPC has officially opened Nebula, a £40 million sustainable R&D development at Milton Park (Oxfordshire). The opening event coincided with an announcement from MEPC that Harley-Davidson Motor Company would become Nebula’s first occupier, as the global brand gears up to create its UK hub at Milton Park later this year. Comprising seven sustainable R&D workspaces totaling nearly 80,000 sq ft, Harley-Davidson’s new hub will cover 8,523 sq ft, bringing UK-based employees of Harley-Davidson and LiveWire to the new space, which will be complete with collaboration spaces and workshop facilities. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e_fQ5BrE