The ELO Oxford Leadership Program is pleased to announce a unique and high-impact addition to its world-class leadership experience: an exclusive site visit and executive-level engagement with Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), one of the world’s leading engines for science-led company creation.
As OSE puts it, its mission is clear and ambitious: transforming Oxford’s world-leading science into world-changing, billion-pound companies that solve global challenges while delivering strong returns for investors. For participants in the ELO Oxford cohort, this represents a rare opportunity to step inside a globally influential innovation ecosystem and learn directly from those building the future of science and business.
The ELO Oxford Leadership Program is designed to cultivate entrepreneurial leadership among a global network of executives, founders, and professionals. By integrating academic excellence with real-world exposure, ELO equips leaders to think strategically, act decisively, and lead with purpose.
The visit to OSE aligns perfectly with this mission. Participants will gain firsthand insights into how breakthrough scientific ideas evolve into scalable, investable, and globally impactful companies. More importantly, they will engage with leaders operating at the intersection of academia, venture capital, and entrepreneurship—an increasingly vital space in today’s innovation economy.
Founded in 2015 in partnership with the University of Oxford, Oxford Science Enterprises has emerged as a pioneering force in venture creation. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, OSE operates as a “venture builder,” actively involved in the formation and growth of companies rather than simply providing funding.
Its model is deeply integrated with the University of Oxford, acting as a preferred investment partner for science-based spinouts. This alignment ensures that researchers, investors, and the university share in both the risks and rewards of innovation.
One of the most compelling examples of OSE’s impact is Oxford Ionics, a groundbreaking quantum computing company founded by Chris Ballance and Tom Harty.
After more than a decade of research, the founders developed a novel approach to building scalable quantum computers using trapped-ion qubits (atoms suspended just above a microchip). This breakthrough enabled unprecedented levels of stability, precision, and scalability, positioning the company at the forefront of quantum innovation.
With early backing from Oxford Science Enterprises, Oxford Ionics transitioned from academic research to commercial success. The company now employs over 100 people and has developed quantum systems capable of tackling complex problems in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and drug discovery.
In June 2025, Oxford Ionics achieved an historic milestone when it agreed to be acquired by IonQ in a $1.065 billion deal—the largest exit in UK quantum computing history. This achievement highlights the global potential of deep tech when supported by the right combination of capital, expertise, and vision.
Why This Matters for ELO Leaders
For participants in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program, this engagement with OSE is more than a visit, it is a learning experience at the frontier of innovation.
Leaders today must navigate a rapidly evolving landscape where science, technology, and entrepreneurship converge. Understanding how ideas move from lab to market, and how to lead within that process, is a critical capability.
By interacting directly with one of the world’s most successful venture-building organizations, ELO participants will gain insights that extend far beyond theory. They will see what it takes to build organizations that not only succeed commercially but also shape the future.
The inclusion of Oxford Science Enterprises in the ELO Oxford Leadership Program underscores ELO’s commitment to providing transformative, real-world learning experiences. It is an opportunity to engage with a model that is redefining how innovation happens—and to bring those lessons back into leadership practice.
For those seeking to lead at the intersection of purpose, innovation, and global impact, this experience will be both practical and inspiring.
For more information on the ELO Oxford Leadership Program:
