University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science

Higher Education Engineering Researcheng.ox.ac.uk

The Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford delivers MEng, MSc(R), DEng, and DPhil programmes and operates seven specialised research institutes spanning biomedical engineering, robotics, thermofluids, energy, and sports medicine, generating commercialisation through spinouts such as OrganOx, OxSonics, OrthoSon, and YASA.

Company typePublic
Founded1908
HeadquartersOxford, United Kingdom
Headcount101–250
GTM typeB2C
OfferingServices

What University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science does

The Department of Engineering Science is an academic department within the University of Oxford, founded in 1908 and headquartered at the Thom Building, Parks Road, Oxford. With 212 staff and a unified departmental structure, it delivers undergraduate teaching (MEng in Engineering Science with six final-year specialisation branches) and postgraduate research degrees (MSc(R), DEng, DPhil) spanning chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, information engineering, biomedical engineering, low-temperature engineering, and experimental plasma physics.

Research output is organised through seven specialised institutes: the Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME), Oxford e-Research Centre (OeRC), Oxford-Man Institute of Quantitative Finance, Oxford Robotics Institute, Oxford Thermofluids Institute, Podium Institute for Sports Medicine and Technology, and ZERO Institute. The department operates dedicated research infrastructure including the Oxford Turbine Research Facility (a short-duration wind tunnel for engine-scale turbine testing) and a hydrogen embrittlement testing laboratory. Proprietary technology platforms include therapeutic ultrasound for non-invasive cancer treatment and targeted drug/gene delivery (TarDox, PanDox trials), normothermic organ perfusion devices (commercialised via OrganOx), cavitation-enhanced oncological drug delivery (OxSonics), and micro-invasive intervertebral disc repair (OrthoSon). The Oxford Thermofluids Institute holds ISO 9001 certification.

Revenue is not commercially disclosed and the department operates as a non-profit public academic unit. Funding flows come from research grants (UKRI, EPSRC, including an £11m programme grant supporting OxCD3), competitive fellowships (Royal Society, 1851 Royal Commission, Clarendon Scholarships), charitable benefactions (notably a £25m benefaction for the Podium Institute), and technology commercialisation through spinout companies. Named spinouts include OrganOx Ltd (CE marked, FDA approved), OxSonics Ltd, OrthoSon Ltd, and YASA (founded 2009, now a wholly-owned Mercedes-Benz subsidiary with 400+ employees). Customer segments are primarily undergraduate and postgraduate students recruited through university-wide admissions, plus research partners and licensees of departmental IP.

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science firmographics

Firmographics

Name: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science
Legal name: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science
Website: https://eng.ox.ac.uk
Company type: Public
Founded year: 1908
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 101–250 employees
Short description: The Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford delivers MEng, MSc(R), DEng, and DPhil programmes and operates seven specialised research institutes spanning biomedical engineering, robotics, thermofluids, energy, and sports medicine, generating commercialisation through spinouts such as OrganOx, OxSonics, OrthoSon, and YASA.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science industry classification

Industry

Product category: Higher Education Engineering Research
NAICS: Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
SIC: Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)
akta.pro primary industry: Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)
akta.pro secondary industries: STEM-Focused Technical Universities (EDAHAEAD), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

Engineering education
Engineering research
Biomedical engineering research
Robotics research
Thermofluids research

Where University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Oxford
HQ country: United Kingdom
HQ region: Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science business model

Business model

GTM type: B2C
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

Research Grants: Funding from UKRI, EPSRC, and other research councils for specific research projects and programs
Fellowship Programs: Funding from Royal Society, 1851 Royal Commission, and other bodies supporting early career researchers
Donations and Benefactions: Charitable donations including the £25m benefaction supporting the Podium Institute
Spinout Companies: Technology commercialization through spinout companies including OrganOx Ltd, OxSonics Ltd, and OrthoSon Ltd

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science product offering

Product offering

Core offering

The Department of Engineering Science is an academic department within the University of Oxford that delivers undergraduate engineering education (MEng in Engineering Science with six specialised branches) and postgraduate research degrees (MSc(R), DEng, DPhil). It conducts fundamental and applied engineering research through seven specialised institutes spanning biomedical engineering, robotics, thermofluids, e-research, quantitative finance, sports medicine, and zero-emission energy, and commercialises selected technologies via spinout companies.

Product overview

The Department of Engineering Science at the University of Oxford is an academic department offering undergraduate (MEng in Engineering Science) and postgraduate research degrees (MSc(R), DEng, DPhil). It comprises multiple specialized research institutes including the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Oxford Robotics Institute, Oxford Thermofluids Institute, Podium Institute for Sports Medicine and Technology, Oxford e-Research Centre, and ZERO Institute. The department also hosts major research facilities such as the Oxford Turbine Research Facility and has produced several spinout companies including OrganOx Ltd (normothermic organ perfusion), OxSonics Ltd (cavitation-enhanced drug delivery), and OrthoSon Ltd (intervertebral disc repair).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

Women in Engineering (WiE) Network: A network established in 2012 to foster a supportive community for women engineers across various engineering disciplines
YASA

Products and services

MEng in Engineering Science Four-year integrated master's degree providing a common foundation in engineering science for the first two years, followed by specialisation in one of six branches. Targeted at prospective undergraduate students applying through UCAS to the University of Oxford.
Research Degrees (MSc(R), DEng, DPhil) Postgraduate research degrees in conventional and emerging engineering disciplines, supported by studentships and scholarships such as the Clarendon Scholarship. Targeted at prospective postgraduate researchers applying to the University of Oxford.
Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IBME) Research institute conducting biomedical engineering research including therapeutic ultrasound, cavitation-enhanced drug delivery, normothermic organ perfusion, and sports medicine technologies, and offering research collaboration and translational pathways via spinouts (OrganOx, OxSonics, OrthoSon). Targeted at research funders, industry partners, and postgraduate researchers.
Oxford Robotics Institute Research institute conducting robotics research across perception, localisation, mapping, and decision-making for autonomous systems. Targeted at research sponsors, industry partners, and prospective postgraduate researchers.
Oxford Thermofluids Institute Research institute (ISO 9001 certified) conducting thermofluids research spanning turbomachinery, aerothermal science, sustainable aviation, and hypersonics, including a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries research rig facility. Targeted at research sponsors and industry partners including aerospace and energy companies.
Podium Institute for Sports Medicine and Technology Research institute dedicated to sports medicine, injury prevention, and athlete health technology for youth, grassroots, and professional athletes. Targeted at research funders, sports organisations, healthcare providers, and postgraduate researchers.
Oxford e-Research Centre Research institute providing digital research infrastructure and computational research support to engineering research, including AI and machine learning applications. Targeted at researchers and research sponsors requiring digital research infrastructure.
ZERO Institute Research institute focused on zero emission and energy transition research within the Department of Engineering Science, including hydrogen-resistant metals via advanced manufacturing. Targeted at research funders, energy industry partners, and postgraduate researchers.
Oxford Turbine Research Facility (OTRF) Short-duration wind tunnel research facility capable of testing an engine-size turbine at correct non-dimensional parameters for fluid mechanics and heat transfer research, featuring a novel aerodynamic turbo-brake. Targeted at research sponsors, turbine manufacturers, and aerospace industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

University of Oxford named a Focused Ultrasound Foundation Centre of Excellence in 2023
+2 more outcomes

Companies that use University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science

Customer profile

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature11 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and notable.

Podium Institute for Sports Medicine and TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Founded in 2021 by Professor Constantin Coussios as Director, supported by a £25m benefaction to the University. The world's first independent academic institute focused on safety and lifelong health of youth and grassroots as well as professional athletes.
AI for Global GoalsnotableGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020AI for Global Goals, an Edtech organisation, leads the Oxford Machine Learning Summer School (OxML). Since 2020, OxML has annually trained over 1,000 AI talents from 100+ countries, including 40% female participation. The department collaborates on fostering international AI talent development.
OrthoSon LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Co-founded in 2016 by Professor Constantin Coussios, developing novel technologies for micro-invasive replacement and repair of the intervertebral disc.
OrganOx LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Founded in 2008 by Professor Constantin Coussios as one of two academic founders. OrganOx has developed a novel normothermic perfusion device for improved liver and kidney preservation prior to transplantation. The technology has achieved CE marking, FDA approval, and successful commercialization in Europe and North America.
OxSonics LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Co-founded in 2014 by Professor Constantin Coussios, commercialising cavitation-enhanced oncological drug delivery technology developed at Oxford.
Oxford Centre for Drug Delivery Devices (OxCD3)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014A £11m centre supported by EPSRC programme grant in collaboration with pharmaceutical and medical device industry to improve oncological drug delivery. Led TarDox, a first-in-human trial of ultrasound-triggered targeted drug delivery in patients with liver tumours.
YASAnotableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009YASA was founded in 2009 as a spinout from the PhD work of CTO Dr Tim Woolmer in the Department of Engineering Science. The company is at the forefront of innovation in electric motor technology for the e-mobility sector. Since 2021, YASA has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz and is central to their aim of being 100% electric by 2030. The company has over 400 employees based in Oxfordshire.
Jane StreetnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerJane Street is a quantitative trading firm active on more than 200 trading venues across 45 countries. They sponsor the Women in Engineering network, supporting diversity initiatives in engineering education.
TTP (The Technology Partnership)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTTP is an independent technology consulting company where scientists and engineers collaborate to invent, design, and develop innovative products and technologies. They sponsor the Women in Engineering network, partnering with ambitious companies on deep-tech challenges across industries from biosensing devices to drones and autonomous systems.
Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry PartnersnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborations with pharmaceutical and medical device companies through the Oxford Centre for Drug Delivery Devices (OxCD3) for oncological drug delivery research and development.
MoD and QinetiQnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Kam Chana joined Oxford following 22 years at the MoD and QinetiQ, where he held the position Head of Instrumentation & Experimental Programmes and was a QinetiQ Fellow. This established research relationships in defence technology.
European Virtual Institute for Gas Turbine Instrumentation (EVI-GTI)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Kam Chana served as Scientific Director of EVI-GTI for 5 years, facilitating European collaboration in gas turbine instrumentation research.
Focused Ultrasound FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership leading to University of Oxford being named a Focused Ultrasound Foundation Centre of Excellence in 2023, recognizing excellence in focused ultrasound research and clinical applications.
Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerMitsubishi Heavy Industries partners with the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, operating a research rig facility for collaborative turbomachinery research.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering: Imperial's Faculty of Engineering is a major UK peer with strengths in biomedical engineering, thermofluids, robotics, and energy. It competes for the same UKRI/EPSRC funding, industry partners, and graduate talent pool as Oxford.
ETH Zurich, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering: ETH Zurich is a leading European peer in engineering research and education, with comparable strengths in robotics, thermofluids, and energy systems. It competes for European research funding and industry partnerships in aerospace and clean energy.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering: MIT's School of Engineering is a global peer in engineering research and education, offering comparable depth across biomedical, mechanical, electrical, and materials disciplines with strong spinout culture. It is the most direct competitor for top international graduate talent and industry-funded research partnerships.
University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering: Cambridge's Department of Engineering is the closest UK peer, offering a similar integrated engineering curriculum, comparable research breadth across disciplines, and a strong spinout culture (e.g., Cambridge Consultants, ARM-adjacent ecosystem). It competes directly for UK research council funding and industry partners.
California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering and Applied Science: Caltech's Engineering and Applied Science division is a peer in fundamental engineering research with strengths in robotics, aerospace, and applied physics. It competes for top faculty and postdocs globally, particularly in autonomous systems and thermofluids.
Stanford University, School of Engineering: Stanford's School of Engineering is a leading peer in AI, robotics, and biomedical engineering research, with deep ties to Silicon Valley and a comparable culture of academic spinouts. It directly competes for faculty, graduate students, and industry funding in computer vision, robotics, and biomedical engineering.

Broad incumbents

University of Michigan, College of Engineering: University of Michigan's College of Engineering is a comprehensive US peer with research strengths in biomedical engineering, robotics, and energy. It competes for top engineering faculty and industry-funded research.
University College London, Faculty of Engineering Sciences: UCL Engineering is a UK peer with significant research in biomedical engineering, computer vision, and robotics. It competes for London- and UK-based industry partnerships and research council funding.
Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Engineering: Georgia Tech's College of Engineering is a peer with strong programs in robotics, biomedical engineering, and energy research. It competes for international graduate students and industry-sponsored research funding.
Princeton University, School of Engineering and Applied Science: Princeton's engineering school offers a comparable undergraduate-plus-research model with strengths in robotics, energy, and biomedical engineering. It is a US Ivy League peer competing for the same international graduate student pool.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science compliance and trust

Trust signal

Compliance1 record

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science subsidiaries and ownership

Company hierarchy

Subsidiaries7 records

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science

What does University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science do?

Is University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science a public or private company?

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science founded?

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science was founded in 1908. It employs 101 to 250 people.

Where is University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science based?

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science is headquartered in Oxford, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.

How does University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science make money?

Four revenue lines are on record. Research Grants are the primary driver. The others are fellowship Programs, donations and Benefactions and spinout Companies.

Who are University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are Imperial College London, Faculty of Engineering, ETH Zurich, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Division of Engineering and Applied Science and Stanford University, School of Engineering. Broad incumbents are University of Michigan, College of Engineering, University College London, Faculty of Engineering Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Engineering and Princeton University, School of Engineering and Applied Science.

Does University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science have an API?

No public API is recorded for University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science.

What industry is University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science in?

University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science's product category is Higher Education Engineering Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAEAA, Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive), with a secondary code of EDAHAEAD, STEM-Focused Technical Universities. Its NAICS code is 54171 and its SIC code is 8731.