Biotechnology is one of the largest industries in both Oxford and Austin. Life Sciences companies grew up around the medical facilities in both cities. Both cities have extensive links between the biotech private sector and the biotech research community centered around the university and hospitals. 

Biotech In Brief

• Fast growing sector with extensive employment opportunities
• University spinouts with strong upside potential seeking early and mid-stage investors
• Medical research at world leading hospitals looking for research staff
• Research opportunities in leading academic departments

Because of the research intensive nature of the industry, biotech companies where close links to research intensive universities are possible, which is true of both Oxford and Austin. 

Lab Space

Life Science companies are growing so fast in both cities that infrastructure is struggling to keep up.Oxford is running out of laboratory space to continue to grow its biotech industry, according to the Financial Times. As of October 2022, Oxford had demand for 800,000 sq m of laboratory space, compared with only 18,000 sq m available, according to Sifted. Austin is facing a similar challenge. Nancy Lyon,the Interim Director of the Austin Community College has also called for an expansion of laboratory space in Austin, warning that mid-sized life sciences companies do not have the lab space they need to expand. This is a tremendously positive space for both cities to be in. Real estate investment is being attracted to both cities to expand space to meet demand, fuelling still further growth. 

In Austin a downtown 3.8 acre site that can hold a 323,000 square feet development was bought by Life Sciences REIT Alexandria Real Estate Equities in late 2022. In Oxford 75,000 square feet of lab and office space is under development at Oxford Science Park. Oxford University is also building a new Life and Mind Building, which will be the largest project the university has ever undertaken. 

Developing Life Saving Medicines

Much of the biotech industry focuses on creating new medicines with which to treat life threatening illnesses. Both Oxford and Austin have strong links to research hospitals based in the city that combine front line patient care with research. Oxford University Hospitals consists of four hospitals connected to each other and the University through the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Their research wing has £55 million in revenue annually to do cutting edge research. Oxford University Medical Sciences wing is involved in 1,000 studies within the EU, and an additional 350 outside. 

In Austin medical research is hosted by the Dell Medical School. They host a range of ongoing research projects including clinical research trials. 

Biotech Support Infrastructure

Biotech startup escalators in both cities fund groundbreaking companies and encourage world changing research. University of Texas, Austin Community College, Oxford University, and Oxford Brookes all have separate biotech accelerator/incubator programs. Both cities are also growing their base of laboratory space

These initiatives are supported by a range of local and national government institutions to fund and encourage economic development. 

Get Involved:

If you are a student, professional, researcher or investor seeking biotech opportunities in Oxford or Austin, get in touch today.