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, 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.
“Relocating the Oxford Centre for Innovation to Blue Boar Court provides start-ups with smart new sustainable space and resources they need to scale. It also strengthens Oxford’s reputation as a leading hub for science and tech innovation. We are delighted that seven companies will be relocating, an endorsement of the boutique community and service we provide and the environment to enable them to thrive.” – Steve Burgess, chief executive officer, The Oxford Trust
Companies will move into the centre in March 2025 and there will be an official opening of the centre in May 2025.
