Isis Spin-out Founder Wins Times Higher Education Award

21 October 2009

Dr Mark Moloney of the University of Oxford’s Chemistry Department has received The Times Higher Education Serendipity Award, celebrating the unexpected outcomes of research. While researching how penicillin is made, he discovered that a similar process could be used to discourage dye migration in plastics.

At a recent Oxford Innovation Society dinner, Dr Moloney described the early work, which eventually led to the formation of a company Oxford Advanced Surfaces with the help of Isis Innovation.

“The notion that penicillin research might have an immediate impact on polymer chemistry seemed ridiculous,” he explained. “We persevered…and by 1998 had established that it was indeed possible to modify the surface of many organic polymers and inorganic materials to introduce colour using a simple chemical process; this was unprecedented.

“Although we initially focussed on colouring, principally because it gave an immediate initial indication of success, we had it in mind to design a process that would enable introduction of other types of functionality.

“[The process] could be used to incorporate not only colour but biocidal, fluorescent, adhesive, and pH sensing effects onto polymers which would normally be considered too inert to allow such modification."

A year after its foundation in 2006, Oxford Advanced Surfaces listed on the AIM market and now employs 17 people.

For more information on Dr Moloney's research please click here.

About Isis Innovation

Isis Innovation is the University of Oxford's technology transfer company and manages the University's intellectual property portfolio, working with University researchers on identifying, protecting and marketing technologies through licensing, spin-out company formation and material sales. Isis files on average one new patent application each week, has concluded over 400 technology licensing agreements, and established 64 new spin-out companies from Oxford. Isis also manages Oxford University Consulting, which arranges consulting services providing clients access to the world-class expertise of the University's academics to enhance innovative capability. Last year OUC arranged over 150 consulting deals. Isis has established a separate business division, Isis Enterprise, offering consulting expertise and advice in technology transfer and open innovation to university, government and industrial clients around the world. Isis was founded in 1987 and is today one of the world's leading technology transfer and innovation management companies.
www.isis-innovation.com