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Professor Dennis Whyte has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Group (UKAEA) following an open international recruitment process, taking up the role this autumn as the UK progresses its work to commercialise fusion energy technologies. Professor Whyte will steer UKAEA at a pivotal moment, with a mission to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy to maximise scientific and UK economic benefit. He will oversee the organisation’s high-impact scientific and engineering work in fusion research and development, advance commercial pathways, strengthen international and industry partnerships and translate scientific innovation into practical outcomes. For over

One year after its launch, The Wire has grown into a thriving community connecting businesses across the Oxford Innovation Space network. Created to help customers share knowledge, find support and build valuable relationships beyond their own centre, The Wire now brings together more than 1,600 members from 30 innovation centres across the UK. Whether it’s finding a trusted supplier, exploring funding opportunities, solving a business challenge or making new connections, The Wire gives innovators access to a wider community of entrepreneurs, experts and business leaders who understand the realities of growing a business. Over the past 12 months, members have

At a glance Company: Rideo Systems Ltd Founded: 2003 Sector: Fusion technology, plasma science, photonics and scientific instrumentation Technology: Minimak (SPM1) compact magnetised torus platform, laser systems, diagnostics and control systems Location: Culham Science Centre. Current Scale: Specialist founder‑led company with systems deployed worldwide and ongoing technology development. The company Rideo Systems designs and develops laser equipment, instrumentation and control systems for scientific and industrial applications. Founded by Paul Apte, who has over four decades of experience developing complex scientific systems, the company combines deep technical knowledge with a practical engineering approach. Paul’s experience spans high-power laser research, industrial photonics,

Drawing on feedback from over 200 businesses across the network, the results show a clear and consistent pattern: businesses that engage with support achieve stronger outcomes. A clear link between engagement and satisfaction Businesses that have used our business support services report an average satisfaction score of 8.6 out of 10, compared to 6.2 for those who have not engaged – a difference of over two points.   This gap reinforces a simple but important point: engagement with the right support makes a measurable difference to how businesses experience and progress within our centres. Supporting tangible business outcomes The findings go beyond

Early-stage support and a specialist innovation ecosystem help Active Needle advance a breakthrough in medical device technology. Active Needle Technology is a UK-based medical device company that has developed a new generation of precision needles for ultrasound-guided interventional procedures. Built on research originally developed at the University of Dundee, the company’s mission is to improve the accuracy, safety, and effectiveness of needle-based medical interventions, reducing risk for clinicians and improving outcomes for patients. Their proprietary technology is designed for use in procedures such as cancer biopsy and treatment in areas where precise needle placement is critical but often difficult to

Help to Grow: Management – Starting 2 June Small business leaders across Oxfordshire now have the opportunity to join a proven, government‑backed leadership programme designed to support ambitious growth. Oxford Brookes University Business School is recruiting for the next cohort of Help to Grow: Management, a 12‑week leadership and management programme created specifically for SME leaders who want to strengthen how they run and grow their business. We’re delighted to be promoting this opportunity across the Oxford Innovation Space network, and we’re encouraging our customers to take advantage of this practical, high‑impact programme. What is Help to Grow: Management? Help to Grow: Management is a flagship national programme,

Deep-tech startup, Luffy AI has developed breakthrough AI-driven technology with the potential to deliver significant energy savings and operational efficiencies for manufacturers. The Oxfordshire-based company is preparing to deploy its first commercial solution later this year after benefitting from early-stage support from Culham Innovation Centre. Luffy AI was founded in 2019 by two employees of UKAEA, Dr Matthew Carr and Dr Alex Meakins. The idea behind the company emerged from the latter’s PhD research in neuroevolution – an advanced AI technique that allows the incorporation of biologically inspired ideas such as neuroplasticity. Around half of the world’s electric energy is

Since opening in 2001, Culham Innovation Centre – managed by Oxford Innovation Space and based within the UKAEA’s Culham Campus in Oxfordshire – has been instrumental in nurturing hightech start-ups and strengthening the UK’s fusion supply chain. Among its many success stories over the last 25 years, Tokamak Energy stands out as one of its most remarkable alumni. When Tokamak Energy began life in 2009 as a bold spin-out from the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), fusion power was still considered a distant scientific ambition. Yet from its first modest office at Culham Innovation Centre, the three person team set out on a mission to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Since moving into the centre in 2010, the company has become a global leader in fusion energy, driving the development of cutting-edge fusion and high temperature superconducting (HTS) technologies. Today, Tokamak

This spring, we’re celebrating 25 years of Culham Innovation Centre – and a quarter of a century spent supporting ambitious science and technology businesses to start, scale and succeed. Since opening our doors in 2001, we’ve supported more than 150 early-stage companies, helping to create over 600 high value jobs and accelerate the development of pioneering technologies across fusion energy, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and life sciences. Based at the heart of the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s (UKAEA) Culham Campus near Abingdon, we provide flexible office, laboratory and workshop space, alongside hands on business support, mentoring and a collaborative environment designed to help innovative businesses grow with confidence. Proven impact over 25 years To mark our 25 year milestone, an independent impact