Building a More Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem in Oxfordshire

How do you turn a brilliant but messy innovation ecosystem into something easier to navigate, stronger on the world stage, and fairer for local communities?In this episode of Oxford+, host Susannah de Jager speaks with Olga Kozlova, one of the driving forces behind Equinox (Equitable Innovation Oxford), a new partnership convened by the University of Oxford to align universities, investors, corporates, developers and communities behind a shared ambition for Oxfordshire.Olga explains why Equinox formed, why a united voice matters if Oxford wants to compete with global clusters, and how the initiative aims to make the ecosystem more accessible for founders, investors and companies looking to locate in the region. The conversation also explores why equitable growth cannot be an afterthought in a county with stark inequalities, and how skills, narratives and practical delivery can help more people feel the benefits of innovation.Equinox launched in November 2025 with over 40 regional partners and a new NatWest Accelerator to support Oxfordshire start-ups.(00:00) - Welcome to Oxford+ (02:02) - Why Equinox Was Formed: A United Voice for Oxfordshire (03:51) - Making the Ecosystem Easier to Navigate for Founders and Investors (05:44) - What Equitable Innovation Means in Practice (09:06) - Does Equity Language Spook Investors? (12:03) - The Four Workstreams: Investors, Corporates, Developers, Communities (13:46) - Early Priorities: Inward Investment, Shared Materials, NatWest Accelerator (16:16) - Who Should Join Next: SMEs, NHS, and the Coalition of the Willing (18:01) - What Founders Need: Navigation, Capital, and Peer Networks (20:12) - The Quadruple Helix and a Model Other Regions Can Copy (23:27) - Measuring Success: Sector Diversity, Investors, and Reducing Inequality (26:08) - Olga’s Career Journey and Why Universities Matter Olga Kozlova: Olga Kozlova is Director of Innovation and Engagement at the University of Oxford and a leader in innovation ecosystems, technology commercialisation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth. She previously established and led the Innovation and Industry Engagement directorate at the University of Strathclyde and founded Converge, Scotland’s national company creation and entrepreneurship development programme.Connect with Olga on LinkedInSusannah de Jager: Susannah is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience in UK asset management. She has worked closely with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and government officials to shape the conversation around domestic scale-up capital.Connect with Susannah on LinkedIn and Subscribe to the Oxford+ Newsletter for Exclusive ContentOxford+ is hosted by Susannah de Jager and supported by Mishcon de Reya, HSBC Innovation Banking, and James Cowper Kreston.Produced and Edited by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.