Fusion firm Oxford Sigma relocates HQ to city centre
Oxford Sigma has moved its headquarters back to the centre of Oxford, signalling an aim to make the city a hub for fusion innovation.
Founded in the city in 2019 by Jonathan Musgrove and Dr Thomas Davis, the group then spent three years at the Harwell campus and says its relocation will help foster the next generation of Oxford's fusion technology innovators and engineers.
READ MORE: Tungsten West enters fusion energy collaboration with Oxford Sigma
As well as moving to The Oxford Trust’s Oxford Centre for Innovation in New Road in the city, the company recently opened a satellite office in United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Innovation Centre in Abingdon.
"The Oxford Centre for Innovation is the perfect place to continue Oxford Sigma’s story and contribute to making Oxford not only a science and technology hub, but the place for innovation in fusion within the UK," said co-founder and chief technology officer Dr Thomas P. Davis.
"The company has come full circle and we are excited to get to work in supporting our home city of Oxford in achieving its potential as the forefront of fusion technology both in the UK and globally.
"The centre is a thriving community of science and technology entrepreneurs making this location ideal for working with our partners in the fusion industry, world-leading research teams, and government towards achieving fusion as the ultimate clean energy source."
Steve Burgess, CEO at The Oxford Trust, added: "We look forward to seeing the company grow as they continue their impressive strategy to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion to help tackle climate change and resolve energy security.
"They are now part of our 40-company strong thriving community of science and tech start-ups and spin-outs across our two centres which regularly collaborates for the benefit of discovery."
When founded, Dr Davis was completing a PhD in materials science at Oxford university.
The company has been working alongside the university's Department of Materials in solving key materials challenges with liquid lithium breeder blanket fusion technology, hosting undergraduate placements in 2022 and 2023, and collaborating on research to rapidly design radiation-tough multi-component tungsten alloys.
Since opening the new HQ, Oxford Sigma has also invited applications for full-time positions in fusion and development engineering as well as coordinated with universities in sponsoring future doctoral research candidates in fusion.
The Oxford Trust is an independent charitable trust founded in 1985 by entrepreneurs the late Sir Martin and Lady Audrey Wood, who were co-founders of Oxford Instruments, the university's first spinout.
The Trust owns the Oxford Centre for Innovation in the city centre and the Wood Centre for Innovation in Headington and has helped hundreds of science and tech companies to flourish and grow, including Mirada Medical, Perspectum Diagnostics, Navenio and Natural Motion.
Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county
