Ed Bussey – CEO, Oxford Science Enterprises

Ed Bussey, CEO of Oxford Science Enterprises, discusses the company's mission to transform university science into investable businesses. Oxford consistently ranks as a leading research institution, and the focus is on commercializing science into billion-pound businesses. Deep tech investing requires balancing capital intensity with commercial scalability. The company seeks not just unicorns, but decacorns. He emphasizes the UK's strong research base but notes the need for more domestic capital for scaling companies. Bussey is in Riyadh to attract investment and explore partnerships, highlighting the potential for a Saudi-based launchpad for their companies. He notes that about a third of the companies are in health tech, including AI-driven diagnostics. Bussey sees Saudi Arabia on a mission to become a key player in the tech and innovation ecosystem.