Isis Innovation

Isis Innovation Ltd is a British technology transfer company, wholly owned by the University of Oxford, located in Summertown, Oxford, England. The company was established in 1988. It manages the University's intellectual property portfolio, working with University researchers on identifying, protecting and marketing technologies through licensing, spin-out company formation, consulting and material sales.

Isis provides researchers with commercial advice, funds patent applications and legal costs, negotiates exploitation and spin-out company agreements, and identifies and manages consultancy opportunities. Isis works on projects from all areas of the University's research activities: life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences and humanities.

Patents and licensing

Isis files, on average, one patent application each week and manages over 400 patent application families and 200 licence agreements. Isis licenses technologies to companies who invest in developing and selling products in a timely and ethical manner. Licensees are sought from all technology and business sectors on an international basis.

Spin-out companies, consulting and sales

Isis has assisted in the formation of more than 50 University spin-out companies since 1997, generating significant value in equity holdings for the University of Oxford. Isis works with University researchers to develop new business opportunities, identifying and sourcing investment, management and professional services.

Oxford University Consulting (OUC), part of Isis Innovation, offers access to the expert knowledge of University researchers and departmental services within the University. Areas of expertise include problem solving, data analysis, expert evaluation, due diligence, management and business development. OUC’s activities meet the ISO 9001 quality assurance standard. Isis manages the negotiation of sales agreements for biological and physical science materials developed within the University.

Oxford Innovation Society and Isis Angels Network

The Oxford Innovation Society, founded in 1990, enables industrial companies to benefit from Isis’ activities, giving access to Oxford science. Members have advance notification of all patent applications marketed by Isis and receive a regular newsletter.

The Isis Angels Network introduces private investors and seed/venture capitalists interested in investing in spin-out companies from the University of Oxford to investment opportunities. IAN is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, established by Isis in 1999. Members of IAN may also be interested in serving as non-executive directors, nominated by the University, on the boards of the new spin-out companies.

Other activities

Isis has strong University links with all the parts of the University involved in technology commercialisation and enterprise. These include Research Services; Begbroke Science Park; Oxford Science Enterprise Centre; and Entrepreneurship Said at the Saïd Business School.

Isis Enterprise is a division of Isis, offering consulting expertise and advice in technology transfer, based upon Isis Innovation Ltd’s success as Oxford University’s technology transfer company. Isis Enterprise helps universities, research organisations and governments develop their technology transfer activities.

External links

* [http://www.isis-innovation.com/ Company website]
* [http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/access/departments/isis.shtml University of Oxford information]