Rolls-Royce invests in Oxford University spin-out

Citation

(2004), "Rolls-Royce invests in Oxford University spin-out", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 76 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2004.12776bab.018

Rolls-Royce invests in Oxford University spin-out

Rolls-Royce invests in Oxford University spin-out

Oxford BioSignals Ltd, one of Oxford University's spin-out companies, has announced that Rolls-Royce has made a strategic equity investment in the company. The partnership between Oxford BioSignals, a leader in the intelligent signal processing field, and the international aerospace company will provide a comprehensive foundation for Oxford BioSignals to achieve its goals.

In addition to a cash contribution of £3.2 m, Rolls-Royce is making a commitment to significant future business with Oxford BioSignals, which will provide intelligent signalling processing products and solutions for engine condition monitoring technology.

Dr Chris Floyd, Business Development Director for Rolls-Royce, said: “The technology provided by Oxford BioSignals enables us to analyse output from multiple sensors on an aircraft engine in an integrated way, rather than relying on several different instruments. This will allow us to detect trends in engine performance more effectively. Our investment in Oxford BioSignals also gives us an opportunity to capitalise on the value of this technology to other markets. All in all this is a very exciting development for the company”.

Oxford BioSignals has been developing and supplying innovative diagnostic monitoring solutions to the healthcare market since it was founded in May 2000. Over the last 2 years, it has expanded its activities to supply jet engine condition monitoring products to the Rolls-Royce aero engine business in the UK, Europe, US and Far East.

The technology underlying the company's diagnostic and monitoring systems derives from the work of Professor Lionel Tarassenko's group in the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford University.