OCT 30, 2025
Veteran founder to apply expertise in energy, cleantech and industrial technologies to co-found and scale a new Deep Tech venture from the Oxford ecosystem.
Oxford, UK – October 2025 – Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE) has appointed James Finlalyson as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) within its Deep Tech team, bringing significant experience in building and scaling energy and cleantech ventures.
James is a proven founder, having successfully taken complex, patented innovation from lab-scale to commercial maturity. Prior to joining OSE, James co-founded and scaled Impact Recycling, where he developed and industrialised a patented separation technology, the Baffled Oscillation Separation System (BOSS), used for challenging mixed plastics. As CTO and director, he oversaw the design and construction of three world-first recycling processes in the UK and led the team that converts problematic waste into packaging-grade polymers.
During his time at Impact Recycling, James secured investment from major corporations, including Nestlé and LG Chem, and licensed the technology internationally to partners in the United States and Finland.
Most recently, his work processing incineration-bound polymer to create a pellet that can be used in NHS sharps bins won him industry recognition, including a Royal Academy of Engineering award and Sustainable Medical Product of the Year.
Sam Harman, Head of Deep Tech at OSE, said: “We are delighted to welcome James, a truly seasoned founder, to OSE. His success in taking a patented cleantech innovation from lab-scale to full factory operation, securing significant investment and achieving international licensing, is exactly the kind of commercialisation expertise we look for. His experience in energy and industrial technologies will be invaluable as he works with us to launch our next great company.”
James Finlayson, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at OSE, commented: “The depth of scientific talent and world-leading research emerging from the University of Oxford is unparalleled. OSE offers a unique platform to translate frontier science into patent-protected science into scalable commercial ventures. I look forward to diving into the ecosystem and working with entrepreneurs, investors, and Oxford’s academic leaders to find unique solutions to global challenges and create a thriving company that can make a genuine impact.”
OSE attracts experienced founders and proven leaders to Oxford through its Entrepreneurs-in-Residence programme, partnering with them to identify breakthrough ideas and ultimately found new ventures. The programme provides direct access to Oxford’s world-class science, capital, and a clear path to spinout. It is a core part of OSE’s mission to find, fund and build world-changing companies, and has already led to the creation of pioneering spinouts including Kneu Health, Amber Therapeutics, and Salience Labs.
OSE’s Deep Tech team is focused on technology grounded in engineering, physics and data, with the potential to reshape entire industries and solve global challenges. The team supports the creation of new foundational technologies, products, standards and categories across areas as pressing and broad-ranging as clean hydrogen, quantum computing, advanced material design, neuromorphic chips, software and AI, and cybersecurity.