What is Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI)?

In 2015, the University appointed Oxford Sciences Innovation (OSI) as its preferred partner for provision of capital to spin-out companies.

OSI has raised more than £600m to invest in, develop and advise companies spinning out of the MPLS and Medical Sciences divisions of the University. OUI will always recommend that you talk first to OSI before reaching out to other investors, but it is always the choice of an individual academic whether or not to work with OSI.

Although the acronyms OUI and OSI are very similar, and OUI works closely with OSI, there’s a difference between the two organisations:

Oxford University Innovation is a part of the University and is here to help you look after the IP you generate and find a route to commercialise it. OUI is wholly owned by the University and is structured such that we can return profits back to the University. OUI’s advice during the commercialisation process is independent of any investor or external commercial party. Our role is to ensure that academics are provided with all the relevant information required when making decisions about commercialisation, including the relative interests of all parties and our honest view on the viability and value of any proposals from external parties.

OSI is external to the University. Unlike most investors in early stage companies, it is structured as a company with shares. The University has a minority stake in OSI and in return OSI receives half of the University’s founding shares in any spinout originating from MSD or MPLS. OSI is an investor and will expect a return on their investment. OSI does not invest in spinout companies from any other universities”