Oxford2Cambridge (O2C) ARC Ltd
O2C is a ground breaking initiative setting out to identify, promote and support the science based ‘innovation community’ located within the geographic arc stretching between the country’s two major universities.
The term ‘innovation community’ refers to the combined activities of Higher Educational institutions; the private science based commercial sector, and local and central government bodies.
The O2C Arc is a unique area in the UK blessed with an enviable blend of education and research centres such as can be found at Buckingham, Cranfield and Luton and, of course, the world-leading universities and high-technology centres of Oxford and Cambridge. Aligned to these centres are the thriving and fast-developing areas of Milton Keynes, Aylesbury Vale and Bedford.
O2C’s mission is to work with this community and other similar communities worldwide in order to improve and accelerate the production, management and commercial application of science based research and Intellectual Property (IP). It’s all about growing the knowledge based economy so that the O2C Arc area and UK Plc can prosper in a highly competitive, globally integrated and increasingly knowledge-soaked world.
Indeed, the O2C Arc initiative is potentially of huge importance for UK Plc. Competitive challenges to our businesses are increasing and global challenges, such as climate change, energy security and sustainable development, are rapidly bearing down upon all of us. Innovation in product and service markets to address these challenges is vital. The O2C Arc area is well placed to create, host and nurture those types of research organisations and companies that will really make a difference to the communities of the O2C Arc area and to UK Plc.
The O2C Arc organisation is run by Dr Nicholas Miles. He is an economic planner who has worked on national innovation strategies in Europe and Asia, and who established a major service driven company in Hong Kong in the early 1990s. He is based in Milton Keynes but travels the arc nearly every day meeting representatives of companies and the public sector, identifying business critical issues for the promotion of the innovation economy that can be solved through focused public-private sector actions.
O2C’s activities are focussed across three main areas:
The O2C Arc also interacts with similar organisations in the Greater South East area as we argue for ‘investing in success’ and trumpet the cause and exciting path of innovating for Britain.
For further information and to learn how your business could benefit from participating in O2C and its aims and activities please visit:
www.oxford2cambridge.net
Or download the 2007 O2C Arc Business Plan, presentations made by the O2C Arc and ‘Looking to the future’, Oxford to Cambridge Arc Ltd, Year End Review 2007 – all can be found on the O2C Arc web-site
To download related documents (click here)
