NEW innovation centres in Oxfordshire are aiming to create 3,500 jobs within the next ten years, writes Maggie Hartford.

The idea of providing homes for small start-up companies came from the Oxford Trust, a charity set up by Oxford Instruments founders Sir Martin and Lady Wood, which this year celebrates its 15th birthday.

The trust, which aims to harness science and technology for economic benefit in Oxfordshire, was started in 1985 in a portable building on Osney Mead industrial estate, where it provided space for ten companies started by scientists and inventors.

The trust's chief executive, Paul Bradstock, told guests at the 15th anniversary lecture that he was faced with the task of turning an unpromising building into one of the first business incubators in Europe.

"Without doubt the most valuable asset was the vision of the founders, Sir Martin and Audrey Wood, and their hard-won experience of growing Oxford Instruments in the city and of helping other entrepreneurs to get started."

There are now eight innovation centres, run by Oxford Innovation, a private company which has generated 300,000 profits covenanted to the Oxford Trust. The latest are at Harwell and Banbury.