STFC's support for start-ups accelerates business growth

nanoFLUX®
(Credit: Oxford nanoSystems)

Oxford nanoSystems (OnS) develop novel surface coating technologies that improve heat transfer in components. This lowers both the size and cost of components used in many applications including industrial, transport and electronics platforms.

The Challenge

When Alex Reip, CEO of Oxford nanoSystems Ltd, joined the company at its founding in 2012, he knew they faced a sizeable challenge as a start-up in the space industry. The challenge for OnS was finding a suitable base for its operations that could facilitate product development and business growth. Fortunately, Alex had heard of STFC’s innovation support at the Harwell Campus, right on his doorstep.

Solution

Affordable and flexible access to equipped laboratories
Connections into STFC and campus networks
Access to funding opportunities
Dedicated facilities for product development
A place in two STFC-managed Business Incubation Centres (BIC) ran on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA BIC UK) and CERN (STFC CERN BIC)

We would not have been able to grow and develop without the support that we have received from STFC over the past six years. Having access to state-of-the-art equipment and facilities for affordable rates make STFC hugely ideal for launching successful tech start-ups.

Alex Reip, CEO, Oxford nanoSystems

The Benefits

The company benefitted from frequent workshops and networking events, organised by ESA BIC UK and Harwell Campus, helping to build connections and find new sources of funding. This resulted in over £1m of equity investment and over £2.5m worth of grants being raised from multiple sources, helping to accelerate the company’s growth.

Following successful technological progress whilst on the ESA BIC UK programme, OnS decided to take advantage of the STFC CERN BIC offering. This provided 40 free hours use of the STFC labs, enabling the company to enlist the help of a world-class thermodynamicist and further improve its technology.

Since graduating from the STFC CERN BIC in 2015, OnS has remained at Harwell Campus, going from strength to strength; winning both the ‘Oxford Innovation Scale-up for the Future’ competition and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award from the Oxford Trust in 2018. Now employing 10 people, OnS is working hard on developing heat exchangers in radar systems, after winning a contract with a Defence and Security Accelerator.

Oxford nanoSystems case study (PDF, 620 KB)

Last updated: 08 March 2019