Fluorok becomes latest member to join ARC Oxford as university spin-out scales
FluoRok, a University of Oxford spin-out, focused on reinventing fluorination has taken a bespoke fully fitted chemistry laboratory and office at ARC Oxford as the company continues to grow.
FluoRok has decades of combined experience in fluorochemicals and business development. Fluorochemicals are fundamental to our daily lives, with critical applications in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals and a key component of Lithium-ion batteries. Currently the production of fluorochemicals relies on a toxic, energy-intensive process developed more than a century ago. FluoRok is re-inventing fluorination by developing new disruptive technologies that provide safe, efficient and sustainable access to these key materials.
Demand for lab space across Oxfordshire remains high at 0.85 million sq. feet with just 25,000 sq. ft available, which is why ARC has repurposed accommodation on the campus to provide laboratories, to overcome the shortage across the city and to help FluoRok to scale at pace.
FluoRok is joining other members at ARC Oxford, who are focused on solving some of the greatest global challenges humanity faces, including: Oxford Biomedica, which is delivering life changing therapies to patients, Ivy Farm, which is improving sustainability in the meat industry and Accession Therapeutics whose mission is to eradicate cancers by harnessing the immune system.
David Williams, Senior Director of Leasing at ARC, said: “We’re delighted to welcome FluoRok to our expanding community of science organisations at ARC Oxford. Their growth is testament to Oxfordshire’s thriving science and tech ecosystem, and we’re pleased that our investment into the campus is creating state-of-the-art, fitted laboratory space that fosters innovation and allows our members to continue their growth journey in today’s global economy.”
Dr Gabriele Pupo, FluoRok’s founder and CEO commented: “Our new facility at ARC Oxford will enable FluoRok to develop and scale our pioneering technology, expand the team and take a further step toward revolutionising the fluorochemicals industry by providing access to fluorochemicals in an efficient, safe, clean and sustainable way. I look forward to working with ARC as FluoRok continues its growth journey and realises its mission of creating a safer, greener and better world.”
ARC is seeing growth across its network of campuses. Earlier this year leading US biotechnology company, Moderna selected Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, as the location for its 145,000sq ft Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre (MITC), and ARC West London welcomed new occupiers taking its Motherlabs accelerator space to over 90 percent occupancy.
By the late 2020s ARC is set to invest over £1 billion in Oxfordshire across the ARC Oxford and Harwell Campuses. ARC’s growth strategy reflects demand for high-quality innovation space, and could see the current 600,000 sq. ft Oxford City space double in size as it brings new laboratories, offices, amenities, and cutting-edge R&D facilities to the campus.
