1. Oxfordshire: key drivers of an
entrepreneurial ecosystem
Helen Lawton Smith
Department of Management
Birkbeck, University of London
& Oxfordshire Economic Observatory, Oxford
University
Presentation at International Workshop
“Entrepreneurial ecosystems and growth-orientated
entrepreneurship
Ministry of Economics
The Hague
November 7 2013

2. Overview
• How do different actors in the Oxfordshire eco-system
make sense of the others’?
– Where do they fit into visions of entrepreneurial ecosystems look like,
how do they interact with their own?
• How can barriers and deficits in local entrepreneurial
regions be overcome by actors of different kinds?
– How are those interactions priced and paid for ?

3. Entrepreneurial ecosystems
Entrepreneurs and
entrepreneurial
resources
Entrepreneurial
vision
Coordinated
Entrepreneurial
activity

4. Entrepreneurial ecosystems in
entrepreneurial regions
• ‘entrepreneurial regions are defined by growing
high levels of entrepreneurship and innovation,
and as regions with outstanding entrepreneurial
visions’ (EU, 2013).
• must also be places where there is co-ordinated
entrepreneurial activity to put those visions into
practice so that ecosystems function effectively.
• agency of research institutions, local government,
skills agencies and so on working together.

5. Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem 1: high-tech environment
• 1,500 high tech firms employing 43,000. 13.4% of county
workforce, largest firms originated in University of Oxford
in 1950s and 1970s
– Key sectors: engineering, ICT, biotech, publishing
• Highly-skilled labour market
– Higher proportion of grads. than other English Counties
• 3 science parks, other business parks
• Strategic location, 40 miles from Heathrow and 50 miles
from London.
• Nice place to be (for employers and employees)

6. Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurial ecosystem 2:
science and technology-based assets
• Global brand, conveying an image of academic excellence
• Oxford University, with outstanding research and teaching,
and Oxford Brookes, one of the best performing new UK
universities
• Unique grouping of ‘big science’ and other research
facilities, including the UK Atomic Energy Authority
(UKAEA) Centre for Fusion Research; the Science and
Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Rutherford
Appleton Laboratory; Diamond Light Source, the UK’s
synchrotron facility; the Medical Research Council’s
facilities at Harwell, and the Satellite Applications
Catapult Centre
• High level military education at Shrivenham (Cranfield U).

7. What works in Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem? 1. Skills
Entrepreneurship education
– Said Business School, Oxford University adds value
through entrepreneurship education.
– All programmes open to Oxford-based entrepreneurs and
high-tech companies as well as to university members.
The number of people being trained is rising steeply,
with over 3000 people attending an event each year.
Apprenticeships
– Training provided by government labs and Oxford U.
– Specialist motorsport training (+ degree level)
– New university technical college – vocational education
focusing on science and engineering

8. What works in Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem?
2. Engagement of (some of) the research base
• Science Vale UK
– Harwell, Milton Park, two local district councils (Vale
of White Horse and South Oxfordshire), the
Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership, Oxfordshire
County Council and the Science and Technology
Facilities Council (STFC) http://www.sciencevale.com/
• University science parks, proposed bioescalator
and University of Oxford’s plans for growth

9. What works in Oxfordshire’s entrepreneurial
ecosystem?
3. Local governance
City Deals (2012) (National Funding)
• intended to give participating areas ability to use funds better for
local needs such as training and skills, roads etc. Oxford and
Oxfordshire City Deal vision ‘to accelerate the growth of the
city region’s knowledge-based economy’
Regional Growth Fund (National Funding)
• 2.6 billion fund across England 2011 - 2016, which supports
projects and programmes that are using private-sector investment
to create economic growth and sustainable employment
Oxford and Oxfordshire Local Economic Partnership (LEP)
• Both universities represented at the Pro-Vice Chancellor level
– http://www.oxfordshirelep.org.uk/cms/
• BUT, limited effectiveness, lack of leadership, fragmentation of
effort, lack of funding

10. So what is not working in Oxfordshire’s
entrepreneurial ecosystem?
• Chronic shortage of early stage investment capital
+ intransigent banks
• Extensive national visa requirements for highlyskilled foreign workers.
• Lack of leadership from within Oxford University
in local systems of governance
• Linkages between University of Oxford and hightech firms are under developed.

11. Three key policy conclusions
1. Strong Public and Private sector leadership is essential
(Regions that lack strong leadership are at a disadvantage with
competitor locations in developing entrepreneurial ecosystems)
2. Funding needs to be secure in order to sustain local
entrepreneurial region’s ecosystems based on universityindustry-government collaborations.
(Understanding the incentives for university/college engagement )
3. Skills issues need identifying and addressing.
(Understanding student and alumni experience and mobility may be
the most useful step in understanding how entrepreneurial
ecosystems function).