40 years of encouraging the pursuit of science
The Oxford Trust is an independent charitable trust, established 40 years ago by entrepreneurs the late Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, co-founders of Oxford Instruments, the University of Oxford’s first and some say most successful spinout company.
The Woods’ experience of creating Oxford Instruments enabled them to appreciate the challenges that face young entrepreneurs. In 1985, they set up the first innovation centre in the region, a catalyst for the Oxfordshire ecosystem of incubators and science parks we see today.
The Trust’s mission is simple: to encourage the pursuit of science. To do this, The Oxford Trust runs programmes across three objectives: innovation, education and engagement. While the Trust focuses on the innovation programme, our education and engagement programmes are delivered through Science Oxford.
Our founders
Sir Martin & Lady Audrey Wood
“We want to inspire children about the wonders of science and help science and tech start-ups to develop and grow.”
Our charitable business model
The Oxford Trust has a simple but effective charitable business model. Our innovation programme supports economic growth in our region by encouraging enterprise. We do this by offering space and business support to science and tech start-ups in our two innovation centres – the Oxford Centre for Innovation in the city centre and the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington.
We are proud that the income from our innovation centres is reinvested into our Science Oxford STEM education and engagement programmes for young people aged 3 to 18. Our programmes aim to foster curiosity, cultivate a positive attitude towards science and lay the foundations for science learning.
The strength of our charitable business model is that it is self-sustaining and supports both ends of the science spectrum from inspiring children about STEM to supporting science and tech start-ups to develop and grow.
Our programmes
The Oxford Trust runs programmes across three objectives: innovation, education and engagement. While the Trust focuses on the innovation programme, our education and engagement programmes are delivered through Science Oxford.
Innovation
Our innovation programme supports economic growth in our region. We operate two innovation centres – the Wood Centre for Innovation and the Oxford Centre for Innovation – that provide flexible office and lab space and business advice for science and tech start-ups, just when they need it most. We are proud to have helped dozens of tech companies to develop and grow by supporting them during their time based in our innovation centres.
Education
Our Science Oxford education programme inspires young people about STEM. Schools can visit us at the Science Oxford Centre, or we have a STEM-focused outreach programme in primary schools with workshops, shows and kit loans that link to the primary curriculum. We also provide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in STEM for teachers and a STEM Careers Programme for secondary school students.
Engagement
Our public engagement programme is run by our Science Oxford team and aims to inspire young people and their families about STEM. We run a vibrant programme of year-round events, including Family Days and STEM-themed after school and Saturday clubs for all ages, at the Science Oxford Centre in Headington as well as in partnership with communities across our region.
Our impact
Our innovation, education and engagement programmes have a wide reach and impact across our region. For more information, read our Annual Review for 2024.
671
employees in the science and technology sector supported in our innovation centres.
20k
children and young people reached through our education programme.
12k
members of the public reached through our engagement programme.
Our centres
The Oxford Trust has two sites: the Oxford Centre for Innovation at Blue Boar Court in the city centre and the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington. The Wood Centre for Innovation incorporates the Linden Building and the Aspen Building (opening 2026), and the adjoining Science Oxford Centre.
Wood Centre for Innovation
The Wood Centre for Innovation, located in Headington, is home to nine pioneering science and tech start-up companies. They are pushing the boundaries of research and development with breakthroughs in biotech and advancements in deeptech, driving positive change. The Linden Building was opened in 2019, and the Aspen Building is coming onstream in 2026.
Oxford Centre for Innovation
The Oxford Centre for Innovation, located at Blue Boar Court in the city centre, is home to seven science and tech companies and supporting businesses. These companies’ focus ranges from climate tech to quantum and drug development to assessing lung disease.
Science Oxford Centre
Adjoining the Linden Building at the Wood Centre for Innovation, the Science Oxford Centre is the UK’s first indoor-outdoor science education centre. It offers a hands-on experience of exciting science exploration and discovery for early years and primary-aged children, their teachers, families and local communities.
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