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GovernanceThe Oxford to Cambridge (O2C) Arc initiative was formally launched in order to promote and accelerate the development of the extraordinary and unique set of educational, research and business assets and activities that characterise the area that stretches between and includes Oxford to Cambridge.

“… economies such as ours have no choice but to out-innovate and out-perform competitors”

(The Rt Hon Gordon Brown speaking as the Chancellor, December the 6th 2006). The O2C Arc initiative is of great importance for UK Plc. Competitive challenges to our businesses are increasing and global challenges, such as climate change and energy security, are rapidly bearing down upon all of us. Innovation in product and service markets to address these challenges is vital. The O2C Arc area, given its concentration of innovative science based companies and research assets, is well placed to create, host and nurture those types of companies that will really make a difference to UK Plc, and to the lives of many right across the globe. This web-site highlights those businesses, and innovation and research assets that are making this vital difference.

The Oxford to Cambridge Arc:

  • Is where a significant portion of funds from UK venture capitalists find a home
  • Is one of the major centres of innovation - in the UK and in Europe
  • Is a recognised superb incubator of innovation, and ‘a hotbed of start-ups’
  • Generates a huge amount of IP – intellectual property
  • Is one of the major concentration of research assets - in the UK and in Europe
  • Contains world leading universities
  • Contains a comprehensive range of public sector research institutes
  • Contains world class corporate research laboratories
  • Accounts for a huge percentage of contract research work in the UK
  • Is a major centre of university spin-outs and spin-ins – in the UK and in Europe
  • Is where deal-flow ‘makes money’ – and often considerable sums
  • Spawned many of the UK most dynamic and innovative companies
  • Allows companies access to a unique range of skills and expertise
  • Is home to and attracts some of the best minds in science and business
  • Increasingly is a global destination for ‘talent’ (a home for global smartypants)
  • And a key node in the global collaborative network of innovation ‘hotspots’
  • Is driven by enthusiasm, courage, creative chaos and disruptive thinking
  • Now faces a range of challenges, including globalisation and competition
  • Is on the threshold of a new and exciting future.
  • Which is vital for the success of UK Plc
  • Come and be part of tomorrow’s world evolving in the Arc!

‘If the City of London leads the world of finance, the Arc drives the UK’s world of Innovation’

The Oxford to Cambridge (O2C) Arc initiative was formally launched in order to promote and accelerate the development of the extraordinary and unique set of educational, research and business assets and activities that characterise the area that stretches between and includes Oxford to Cambridge.

The O2C Arc initiative is potentially of great importance for UK Plc. Competitive challenges to our businesses are increasing and global challenges, such as climate change and energy security, are rapidly bearing down upon all of us. Innovation in product and service markets to address these challenges is vital.

The O2C Arc area, given its concentration of innovative science based companies and research assets, is well placed to create, host and nurture those types of companies that will really make a difference to UK Plc. The world is not flat; place matters. It matters that there is a geographical concentration of world-class universities, research institutes and innovative firms in the O2C Arc area. This concentration represents the type of critical mass required for any knowledge based economy (KBE) to be ‘world’ class. It is a critical mass that is associated with the Arc area as a whole rather than with any one of its constituent sub-areas.

It is not too fanciful to posit that the O2C Arc is the right place on which to focus effort in order to get the right result for UK Plc. The importance of the initiative is clearly seen by the supporting and partnering Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). SEEDA (South East Economic Development Agency), for example, has termed the initiative a ‘breakthrough’ solution helping those in the region implement transformational economic interventions that will allow the region and UK Plc to positively response to the challenges of global competition and sustainable development. Further, the O2C Arc straddles two designated growth areas (Milton Keynes South Midlands growth area, and the London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough growth area) for which investment and land are available to support the ‘right’ type of development for the region, and for UK Plc.

“the counties [of the Research Triangle, North Carolina, USA] do work together…they realise that what’s good for one is probably good for all…. but this is tough on economic development professionals who often think in place competitiveness terms and respond to local politicians”

Source: VP [Global Strategy], Douglas Aitkin, Vice President of Research Triangle speaking to the O2C Arc Director in July 2006

Within this section you will find a description of the O2C Arc organisation (read the business plan and comment!), together with a list of all the key public and public-private organisations that focus on the promotion of the innovation economy of the O2C Arc area. You will also find a range of presentation made by the O2C Arc organisations top various stakeholders in the area.