Oxford
Teaching since 1096, college system since 1249. Now UK's top spinout generator (300+ companies, £1.45bn invested). 'Silicon Valley of UK' for life sciences. Medieval model, modern output.
Oxford exists because scholars fled Paris. Teaching began around 1096, but the university crystallized after 1167 when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. By 1190, Emo of Friesland arrived as the first recorded overseas student; by 1214, the university had a Chancellor. Medieval rioting between townspeople and students—'town and gown' conflict—led to the establishment of residential colleges. University, Balliol, and Merton Colleges, founded between 1249 and 1264, are the oldest.
The college system created something unusual: a federation of semi-autonomous institutions bound by shared examinations and degrees. Friars drew notable scholars—Roger Bacon, Duns Scotus, William of Ockham. The St. Scholastica's Day riot of 1355 so increased university privileges that it controlled aspects of town life until the 19th century. Crown and state patronage helped Oxford survive the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1538 when Catholic institutions collapsed.
The medieval model proved adaptable. The university that trained clergy now trains entrepreneurs. Since 2011, Oxford has generated 205 spinout companies—more than any other UK university—and recently celebrated its 300th company overall. New spinout formation has increased 166%; capital raised has grown 687%. Oxford Science Enterprises alone participated in 106 deals totaling £1.45 billion. In 2025, Oxford Ionics sold for $1.075 billion; OrganOx for $1.5 billion.
Oxfordshire has become the 'Silicon Valley of the UK' for life sciences. The £1.2 billion Oxford North development opened in 2025, housing AI, quantum computing, biotech, and food tech companies. Moderna chose nearby Harwell for its innovation center. Over 214 AI-based spinouts have emerged from UK universities, with Oxford leading.
By 2026, Oxford will test whether a 900-year-old institution can remain the world's most productive research university. The medieval colleges that housed theology students now incubate quantum computing startups. The model endures because it adapts.