Camera tech firm Living Optics moves into Milton Park HQ

Published by

Daniel Face

University of Oxford spinout Living Optics has established its new headquarters among the science and technology community at Oxfordshire’s Milton Park.

Living Optics develops hyperspectral cameras capable of detecting more than 50 colours in each pixel. This pioneering tech could see use in detecting tumours, assessing the freshness of food, sorting plastics for recycling, and even determining the health and biodiversity of soil.

The team of 30 employees will have access to 8,000 square foot of office and lab space for R&D at the new site on 100 Park Drive, where it hopes to grow its staff and reach a wider market.

Having branched out from the University of Oxford’s Physics Department in 2020, Living Optics secured £20 million of series A funding last year. Coupled with the new facilities, this will allow the team to develop the complex engineering and software applications required for their camera technology.

Finance Director Connor O’Brien said: “Our successful series A funding underpinned a real excitement about our mission to democratise hyperspectral cameras for the mass market, but it also revealed a critical need for us to find more space and facilities to accommodate for that rapid growth.

“Milton Park’s location, its adaptable facilities and the vibrancy of its occupier community was a natural fit for Living Optics. Our new headquarters – complete with laboratory, meeting room and collaboration spaces – suit our future needs perfectly.

“We’re well on our way to introducing hyperspectral systems and the huge range of potential applications to the market, which have long been confined to the lab, and we’re really excited to continue that journey here.”

With its plans for growth, Living Optics has good reason to be optimistic about the future at Milton Park. Recent findings from insights firm Beauhurst show that a total of £2.14 billion in equity investment was raised across the 272 companies based at the site over the past decade.

Philip Campbell, Commercial Director for Milton Park, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome a local Oxfordshire success story like Living Optics to our vibrant and innovative community. Providing adaptable spaces for exciting tech companies at the vanguard of innovation is at the heart of what we do.

“We think Milton Park as an incubator with strong community collaboration and a long-term track record of nurturing companies along their growth journeys. We’re looking forward to seeing Living Optics go from strength-to-strength as it embarks on its mission to democratise access to hyperspectral imaging.”

Daniel Face

Born and raised in Berkshire, Dan fell into journalism after completing his bachelor’s degree in English at UCL. Writing for The Business Magazine and local Biz News sites has given him the opportunity to chat with all manner of small business owners and share their success stories with a wider audience. Outside of work, Dan enjoys live music, board games and quiz shows, and is making a slow but persistent effort to learn Spanish.