Equinox Partnership Launched To Boost Oxford’s Global Innovation Ecosystem

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 (Bernama) -- A new regional partnership, Equitable Innovation Oxford (Equinox), has been launched to position Oxford as a global hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

The initiative, launched by Member of Parliament (MP) for Oxford East, Anneliese Dodds, aims to create a robust ecosystem that supports business scale-up, attracts investment, and nurtures talent across the region.

Supported by over 40 key partners, including the University of Oxford, Oxfordshire County Council, Moderna, Oxford Science Enterprises, Siemens Healthineers, and the Ellison Institute of Technology, Equinox unites universities, government, businesses, and investors under one collaborative platform.

In conjunction with the launch, NatWest announced the launch of a new NatWest Accelerator in Oxfordshire to provide tailored support and specialist banking expertise for start-ups, according to a statement.

University of Oxford Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey said the university’s mission was to ensure discoveries “develop, thrive, and have impact here in our region”, adding that Equinox would turn “discovery into opportunity, and opportunity into shared prosperity.”

NatWest Commercial and Institutional Chief Executive Officer, Robert Begbie described the partnership as a milestone that would embed deep local support for founders and help scale businesses with confidence.

Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, and Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor Champion, Lord Vallance hailed Equinox as a pivotal step for the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor, promoting inclusive growth and innovation with benefits extending nationally and globally.

Meanwhile, Equinox partners said the collaboration would help strengthen Oxfordshire’s innovation ecosystem, attract investment, and ensure that the region’s scientific and technological advancements generate shared, sustainable impact.

With Equinox now operational, Oxford is set to harness its world-leading research, entrepreneurial talent, and collaborative networks to drive inclusive, sustainable innovation—from local communities to the global stage.

-- BERNAMA