Oxford's new research companies spin to the top
An Oxford University subsidiary company is thriving as it continues its run of success.
Isis Innovations, the University's technology transfer office, is designed "to exploit know-how arising out of research" at Oxford, and usually files a patent a week. Isis has so far created 44 companies.
One of the most successful and high profile of these is Natural Motion Ltd, founded in 2001, who design computer generated characters for films and computer games, using the innovative concept of artificial intelligence controlling simulated characters. Their program Endorphin has been widely used in the final Lord of the Rings film, The Return of the King.
The creation of spin-offs is being encouraged by many academics at Oxford and other universities as a handy means of raising the funding of their establishments, and as a way of generating real scientific and social progress from their research.
19th Feb 2004