A MESSAGE FROM SCIENCE OXFORD
This is a reprint of an email distributed by Science Oxford to its subscribers we thought may be of interest to other BCS Oxfordshire members.
Dear Newsletter Subscriber
Science Oxford (in the form of our parent charity, The Oxford Trust) has been at the heart of science and enterprise in Oxfordshire for over 25 years. During that time, we have played a pioneering role in the development of innovation centres for the incubation of high-tech companies, and in the creation of ‘venture angel’ networks of investors willing to provide seed capital to fledgling companies. Oxford Innovation, our own spin-out company, is nationally recognised as a leading provider of premises and other services to the knowledge-based economy.
Over the past quarter century our region’s economy has evolved significantly, and the Oxfordshire innovation ecosystem is now very different to when our organisation was established.
Despite the changed economic landscape, there is still an important role for Science Oxford to play in supporting our region’s innovation economy; in particular we want to focus our efforts to encourage a new generation of entrepreneurs and scientists. Our mission is to ‘encourage the pursuit of science and enterprise’ and in these challenging times it remains our view that inspiring and supporting new talent is essential for our nation’s future.
To build on our past and to carry out our mission in the future our Trustees have decided to embark on a project, which we hope will allow us to play a helpful role in inspiring and supporting innovation in our region.
We aim to open a major cultural centre for science and enterprise in the city of Oxford. We have purchased of a site next to the Castle Mound, and appointed Foster + Partners as architects. We have raised one third of the estimated £30 million project cost, and, subject to fundraising and planning, we hope to open the centre’s doors in 2015. A full description of the project is available to download here. If you want to get involved in helping to support the project, why not consider taking out a corporate membership or even an annual sponsorship? Our £200 per year corporate membership is great value. It gives you access to all our events and activities, and you can be safe in the knowledge that you are supporting a fantastic project too!
In line with our ambitions, over the next few years a major aim of our work will be to help local science based businesses connect to the wider community.
In order to do this, we will support a number of programmes which create links between local businesses, researchers, schools and the public. These include the STEM Ambassadors scheme, Nuffield Science Bursaries, the Science Oxford Apprentice and the Life Lab careers resource. Our most recent newsletter is available here, which will give you a flavour of what we do.
As a part of our new programme, this e-newsletter will also change. In the future it will be quarterly, and will feature case studies of companies who are connecting with the community, as well as timely information on our activities.
This is an exciting time for science in Oxfordshire, and we very much hope that you will be able to join us on our journey towards a new cultural centre for science and enterprise.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ian Griffin (email ian.griffin@scienceoxford.com)
For more information about our project to open a new centre for science and enterprise please read the downloadable pdf or alternatively see the website.
To help support our project, please consider taking out a corporate membership.
Ian Griffin Ph.D.
CEO
SCIENCEOXFORDLIVE
SCIENCEOXFORDNETWORKS
SCIENCEOXFORDNEXT
SCIENCEOXFORDONLINE
1-5 London Place
Oxford OX4 1BD
D: 01865 728953
F: 01865 791854
www.scienceoxford.com
