Innovation District
Supercomputing is an essential tool in the advancement of global research, innovation
and education. With quantum capability, this will be further accelerated.
New sites are needed to deliver supercomputers and associated infrastructure.
Direct Liquid Cooled (DLC) supercomputing infrastructure will be essential to the growth of Oxford's research and innovation ecosystem.
What is supercomputing?
For the UK to remain a global leader in innovation and academia, and to realise the benefits of AI for research, sovereign supercomputing infrastructure is needed.
Supercomputing is one of the most essential tools fuelling the advancement of global research, innovation and education. It is playing a key role in ground-breaking discoveries across climate, engineering and materials, and life sciences, as well as machine learning, robotics, and ethics and governance. The opportunity to integrate quantum systems would further accelerate developments in these areas.
At present, very few universities globally have access to HPC facilities of such a scale, but within five to six years this technology will be widespread. EXOq’s essential infrastructure would ensure Oxford remains a competitive research and innovation environment.
The facility will be able to offer trusted research environments for NHS and other data.
Secure access to supercomputing infrastructure will provide a fertile environment for innovators and developers to mix with academic researchers at the cutting edge of many fields.
Without this secure infrastructure, these collaborations will either take place elsewhere or will not take place at all.
The Sovereign HPC will be capable of accommodating a variety of dynamic and evolving compute technologies including the integration of quantum compute infrastructure.
The EXOq facility therefore considers secure and sovereign requirements, ensuring resilience, both in terms of connectivity with the site, and energy solutions.
Cutting-edge supercomputing requires a variety of emerging technologies, including Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC), because the computing power required cannot be cooled by conventional aircooled environments.
These methods are more energy efficient than air cooling, and the heat removed by DLC can be repurposed for on-site facilities and for wider community benefit, such as a district heating system.
The HPC Facility and Energy Centre will be co-located in the eastern portion of the site, creating a sustainable solution to energy and excess heat.
What is sovereignty of data?
A sovereign compute ecosystem is one in which all the computer systems involved, and all the programs and data generated or contained within them, are subject to the laws and regulations of the nation in which they are housed. This preserves the integrity of any intellectual property (IP) created. The sovereignty of data is of ever more importance for IP of government, academic, and commercial entities.
What is quantum computing?
The dramatic advances in the digital computing power that surrounds our everyday lives, in our phones, cars, homes, offices and laboratories over the last 75 years have exploited some of the quantum properties of components such as microchips and the electrons that flow through them.
Quantum computing technology will take us as far beyond current digital technology, as that technology took us beyond the steam-powered technology of the 19th century.
This leap forward is due to the ability to make use of the “strangest” quantum properties of things like electrons – their ability to exist in a mixture of states and the capacity for one entity to be influenced instantaneously by what happens to its counterpart far away.
Using these properties a quantum computer will be able to solve problems which traditional digital computers simply cannot.
Why is it important for Oxford?
EXOq would be at heart of the ‘Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine’ and economic cores of Oxford, the Science Vale, and Bicester.
EXOq will provide nationally significant HPC infrastructure currently lacking in Oxford.
The Sovereign HPC and quantum capable facility will also accommodate larger companies looking to establish a site in Oxford, while providing a hub for start-ups and other local innovators.
Oxfordshire has a diverse economy with strengths across a broad base of knowledge intensive sectors.
Entities spanning business, universities, colleges, and research facilities are located across multiple local authorities, mainly Oxford City Council, Cherwell District Council, South Oxfordshire District Council, Vale of White Horse District Council, West Oxfordshire District Council and Oxfordshire County Council.
These local authorities have formed the Oxford and Oxfordshire City Deal with Government. This partnership prioritises innovation opportunities in key locations along the ‘Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine’ and economic cores of Oxford, the Science Vale, Oxford, and Bicester.
Preliminary analysis suggests that the economic impact of EXOq would be £1.4billion gross value added (GVA) once operational, of which the direct benefit to Cherwell District would be a GVA of circa £0.9billion per annum.
In terms of employment, the analysis suggests EXOq would create circa 7,000 jobs, of which around 4,600 would be in Cherwell District.
Source: Exeter-Oxford Innovation District: Employment Land and Economic Impact Assessment, October 2025. Prepared by: Hardisty Jones, Economic Development Consultants
EXOq is particularly well placed as it sits within the northern point of the Knowledge Spine and is at the intersection between the Knowledge Spine and the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor.
More generally, EXOq will be the natural home of companies in the ‘dry’ science (maths, physics, life sciences) as well as engineering and computer science which have a need for significant compute power and for which sovereignty of data for the creation of Intellectual Property (IP) is important.
A global benchmarking exercise has been undertaken which has studied not just the leading innovation districts across the globe but also leading literature. It went beyond the physical layouts of the districts to explore how each one activates its campus to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Future of Innovation Districts (Arthur D. Little, 2021) highlights five factors which can contribute to a successful innovation district:
Access to talent from one or more leading universities: To provide exceptional talent and marketing value towards bigger companies.
Good transport connectivity: The report highlights that good connectivity is required both into and within the district, so that it can serve thousands of people a day, enabling a constant source of new interactions between individuals.
Flexible accommodation to live, work and play: Spaces to live within the district are essential to enable constant interaction between people.
Proximity and density: Innovation Districts must be located in areas of sufficient population density such that a critical mass can be achieved to drive the District’s success.
Access to services of innovation: Resources such as incubators, accelerators, labs, and advisory services that support the growth of innovation and entrepreneurship.
The aim is to develop EXOq into a world-class destination for innovation which highlights the need for a tailored approach rather than simple replication.
EXOq will build on Oxford’s track record of successful spinout companies in the sector.
An exemplar innovation district
As a pedestrian-focused site, workers and visitors will arrive on-foot or cycle to the district enjoying a high-quality public realm, limited of vehicular traffic.
Exeter College, Oxford and its commercial partners will seek to develop an innovation ecosystem to bring together leading research institutions, government institutes, incubators/accelerators, experienced business leaders, faculty researchers, investors and established industries in a community.
EXOq will take advantage of the presence of all these actors in and around Oxford, to quickly create a vibrant innovation ecosystem at the campus.
The attraction for commercial investors and backers has informed the proposed scale of the development. EXOq at full completion will deliver over 200,000sqm of research and development commercial floorspace including a portion for higher education users. At the core of the facility, the dedicated sovereign HPC facility will deliver 12,900 sqm, in addition to an 8,200sqm hotel and 950 sqm retail and commercial floorspace for supporting amenities of the district.
Oxford has a track record of producing innovative spinout companies who go on to create value and reinvest in the Oxfordshire economy. Oxford University Innovation is responsible for creating spinout companies based on academic research generated within and owned by the University of Oxford, and in recent years has spun out 15-20 new companies every year.
More than £2.5bn in external investment has been raised by Oxford University Innovation spinouts since 2010, and ten of the current portfolio companies are listed in London and New York.
Importantly, EXOq has been designed to provide pedestrian and cycle focused environment with a high-quality public realm, moving away from the traditional science parks to a more bespoke and landscape focused setting.
What is an innovation district?
According to leading researchers Katz and Wagner, innovation districts are:
“…geographic areas where leading-edge anchor institutions and companies cluster and connect with startups, business incubators, and accelerators.”
Innovation Hub
Informed by the global benchmarking study, EXOq will not only offer access to a sovereign HPC facility for companies and researchers, but it will also maximise the potential of the supercomputer as well as foster cross-industry collaboration with a dedicated Innovation Hub.
This 9,000 sqm Hub will provide shared specialist facilities including makerspace, innovation labs, and a suite with virtual reality technology, as well as resources to demonstrate quantum capability. These pioneering facilities will benefit start-ups with access to this innovative technology alongside traditional shared commercial office facilities such as meeting rooms, video conference pods, and collaboration spaces.
In addition, the Hub will provide areas to relax, and facilities to meet, present and exhibit supported by a reception and check-in point. Alongside this, the Hub will feature a range of community amenities including a café, restaurant and landscaped outdoor space for industry leaders, academics and visitors to EXOq to connect. A 5,000 sqm formal conferencing facility linked with the Innovation Hub at the end of the pedestrian plaza, will complement the hotel and wider facilities at EXOq to provide a unique setting, nestled into the landscape with glimpsed views of the canal and Stratfield Brake.
The proposals include a range of new facilities to support EXOq, including a dedicated Innovation Hub.
The Hub will provide space for commercial collaboration with a range of specialist facilities to encourage innovative and commercially successful spin-outs.
The atrium of the Innovation Hub will provide a central informal gathering space doubling as a unique space to host presentations and demonstrations, and exhibitions for companies at EXOq.
A vibrant plaza space is proposed off the Innovation Hub to be able to provide a south-facing performance and relaxation area for employees and visitors to enjoy against an iconic landscaped backdrop.
New amenities to work, collaborate and relax
A new hotel will offer short and long-stay accommodation for visiting industry leaders and academics.
Commercial units will serve the needs of people working and researching on site.
To promote EXOq as a global centre of excellence in emerging technology, visitor accommodation will be essential near the site.
While the scheme prioritises the development of homegrown talent, visiting industry leaders, partners, and emerging talent will require convenient access to EXOq.
To support this, a 180-room hotel is proposed offering a mix of rooms that can be booked for short and long stays, tailored to the needs of both temporary and longer-stay academic and commercial visitors. Located in the north eastern part of the site it takes advantage of its convenient position with direct access from the new footbridge to Oxford Parkway station served by regional and national transport links.
New commercial and retail units are proposed near the hotel to serve the needs of people working and visiting EXOq as well as the local community, providing ease of access on journeys to and from the site with unparalleled access to transport infrastructure.
The main pedestrian and cycle access via the footbridge from Oxford Parkway station converges with the access route to the hotel and commercial units to provide an entrance for the multiple modes of the site. It features one of two transport hubs near the site providing links to the local bus network, cycle facilities, and centralising any vehicular activity to the site with multi-storey car parks.
Frieze Farmhouse will be retained as it is and its historic setting and landscape enhanced to provide a different kind of environment for those working at EXOq.
As well as a hotel, EXOq will provide a host of amenities to serve people working and visiting. These will include the social facilities such as the restaurants, cafés in the Innovation Hub, as well as outdoor plaza and performance space.
Frieze Farmhouse currently used as office space, could be transformed into a shared facility providing smaller scale conferencing and other space for those working at EXOq.
In addition, employees and visitors of EXOq will have access to the public parkland featuring a community hall and café in the west of the main site near the canal.
The hotel is proposed off the arrival square, linking from Oxford Parkway Station. This square also features transport interchange facilities for cyclists and buses, a handful ofretail shops and a centralised multi-storey car park.
The conferencing facility linked to the Innovation Hub will complement the hotel and wider facilities at EXOq to provide a unique setting, nestled into the landscape with glimpsed views of the canal and Stratfield Brake.
A further education college will provide opportunities for local young people.
Skills and training will focus on hardware and IT related expertise with opportunities to support EXOq operations.
The facility will build on local and national ambitions to expand educational pathways.
Shaping the future workforce
The FE College will be in a prime position in the main site with ease of transport links and proximity to the district's collaborative heart, the Innovation Hub.
While the major focus of EXOq will be on academic and commercial research in sectors requiring local compute power, a key opportunity for the local community will be a new further education (FE) college.
The FE College will focus on equipping the young people today with the skills to be the workforce of tomorrow, working in and supporting newly emerging technologies linked to EXOq and high-performance compute.
Generally, further education providers focus on teaching 16- to 18-year-olds but they provide opportunities for mature students to return to education.
With the concentration of research businesses and significant level of investment in new and emerging technologies at EXOq, it is important that the technically skilled workforce to operate and maintain these systems is developed. This is vital to support the broader research activities and there is currently a gap in the market for these rapidly evolving technologies.
Proposed immediately off EXOq's main arrival plaza anchoring the north end of the main site, the FE college takes advantage of its convenient location near the transport hub and the proposed new footbridge to Oxford Parkway station.
The new FE college offers an exciting opportunity for Kidlington and the wider Oxford region to train or retrain for skills-based jobs focused on hardware and IT of these digital technologies.
This not only builds on the strategic local objectives of Enterprise Oxfordshire and the UK Government to expand education pathways into the industry, but also further supports growth, driving sustainability in all aspects of the proposal.
