The University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, in line with its pre-eminence as a world centre of new knowledge, ideas and innovation.
- Oxford University researchers have won over 50 Nobel prizes.
- Oxfordshire is one of Europe’s leading centres of enterprise, innovation and knowledge. At the end of 2004, there were over 3,500 high-tech firms in the county employing 45,000 people.
- The University of Oxford has produced over 70 technology based spin-out companies and has received over £80 million for the sales of shares in spin-outs.
- The University’s portfolio of 49 companies is currently valued at around £32 million (November 2009) and employs 900 employees. The total market capital of these companies is £514 million.
- During the financial year 2008–2009 as a whole, total funds raised by the University of Oxford’s (unlisted) spin-outs was £42.7 million.
- Oxford Entrepreneurs is one of the largest student entrepreneur societies in the world, with over 7,000 members. One of its 40 start-up companies was sold in 2008 for US$5 million, and others raised over £1 million in seed funds last year.
- The Oxford Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation offers access to over 50 entrepreneurship events a year.
- Leading soft innovation companies formed by Oxford University graduates include McKinsey & Co, Pizza Express, Majestic Wines and Lastminute.com.