Isis Innovation

Oxford University Innovation previously known as Isis Innovation is a British technology transfer company, wholly owned by the University of Oxford, located on Botley Road, Oxford, England.

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

Isis 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. Isis works on projects from all of the University's research divisions: medical sciences, mathematical, physical & life sciences, humanities and social sciences.

Isis files, on average, one patent application each week, manages over 360 patent application families and has concluded over 450 licence agreements which has made Isis Innovation "one of the country's most prolific technology transfer offices". According to 2012 figures from WIPO, Isis Innovation is the 4th largest filer of PCT patent applications in the UK and the highest European university applicant. Isis 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.

Isis works with University researchers to develop new business opportunities, identifying and sourcing investment, management and professional services. Since 1988 Isis 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:

Isis 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, Isis manages:

Oxford University Consulting (OUC); which arranges consultancy services providing third-party clients access to expertise from the University’s academics to enhance innovative capability and to manage the contractual and administrative aspects of consultancy, minimising the administrative burden while protecting personal interests of the academic and those of the University. Areas of expertise include (but are not limited to) problem solving, data analysis, expert evaluation, due diligence, management and business development. OUC also helps Oxford University departments in hiring out specialist services and facilities to private companies by managing the contractual and financial aspects on behalf of the departments. OUC’s activities meet the ISO 9001 quality assurance standard.

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