Oxford Launches Motherlabs to Empower Start-ups with New Labs

ARC has officially unveiled Motherlabs Oxford at its ARC Oxford Campus on Garsington Road. This new initiative aims to bolster the growth of start-ups emerging from the city’s prestigious research environment. The Oxford spin-out industry has seen significant expansion, with an analysis by Onward revealing a 166 percent increase in companies formed from Oxford University research over the past decade. Furthermore, the amount of capital raised by these companies has surged by 687 percent, indicating a pressing need for specialized facilities to support early-stage ventures.

Scheduled to open in June 2026, Motherlabs Oxford will feature laboratories ranging from 800 to 1,200 square feet. These spaces will be fully equipped and ready for immediate use, complete with dedicated write-up areas and access to essential shared infrastructure. According to ARC’s leadership, the design of Motherlabs Oxford is informed by their pioneering research on neuroinclusive lab environments. The goal is to foster creativity, collaboration, and innovative problem-solving among the start-ups that will occupy these new facilities.

Companies based at Motherlabs Oxford will benefit from shared facilities and specialized lab support services. These include equipment sterilization and clinical waste management, which are designed to minimize operational costs and allow teams to concentrate on advancing their scientific work.

Sebastian Johnson, director of ecosystems at ARC, emphasized the critical role of infrastructure in transforming research into impactful ventures. “Oxford has an extraordinary track record of turning research into impact, but access to the right space at the right time remains critical,” he stated. “By launching Motherlabs Oxford, we’re giving early-stage companies the infrastructure they need to stay in the city, grow with confidence, and focus on translating breakthrough science.”

Motherlabs Oxford will be situated within the existing ARC Oxford Campus, which accommodates more than 30 science and innovation-based organizations, including OMass Therapeutics, FluoRok, and Perspectum. The announcement of Motherlabs was made during the Founders & Funders event, a registered foundation dedicated to supporting translational research and nurturing science entrepreneurship.

To celebrate the launch, the Lamb and Flag pub was illuminated in pink, marking the expansion of the Motherlabs community in Oxford. Michael Collyer from Founders & Funders noted the importance of ready-to-use lab space for budding entrepreneurs. “For founders, ready-to-use lab space is the difference between talking about a company and actually building one,” he remarked. “Motherlabs Oxford at ARC cuts through the usual delays around space and setup, so teams can focus on the science and momentum. That is exactly the kind of infrastructure Oxford needs more of if we want to see more research turn into real, scalable ventures.”

ARC Oxford is part of a broader network of innovation clusters operated by ARC, which includes Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, ARC West London, and ARC Uxbridge. Recently, ARC’s campuses were honored with the Workspace of the Year title at the Hustle Awards, underscoring their commitment to fostering innovation and supporting emerging companies in the scientific landscape.