OXFORD has the potential to overtake Cambridge as a global centre for hi-tech business.

That is the opinion of top academic Professor Peter Dobson who believes the city and county in general has a winning combination of world class universities, excellent training and purpose-built facilities with tailored support to push it ahead.

The majority of business people in Oxfordshire agree with him, with 64 per cent of those surveyed in the latest Oxfordshire Business Barometer report released today saying Oxford can push ahead of its traditional rival.

Prof Dobson, academic director at Begbroke Science Park, said: “We have better-aligned graduate courses to train our students.

“Oxford is home to Isis Innovation — one of the best technology transfer offices in the world.

“Begbroke Science Park is truly supportive and different from anything Cambridge has to offer and we also have Harwell, Culham and Milton Park on our doorstep and the best research and teaching hospitals.”

Prof Dobson, a lecturer in innovation and entrepreneurship at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, believes that in the past Cambridge has been better at “hyping” its achievements and Oxford has some catching up to do in key areas.

He said: “In Oxford, we do not yet have the same level of research and development consultancies as they do in Cambridge and this has held us back.

“I also believe we have been slower to realise the importance of innovation within our own university activities.

“Cambridge has an engineering department that is three times the size of ours and very much aligned to the needs of industry.

“They also have innovation champions who have the ear of their university’s vice-chancellor and Government ministers.”

But he added: “With the right leadership and vision, I believe Oxford has what it takes to win the race to the top.”

Business leaders have backed Prof Dobson’s view.

Bob Bradley, chairman of the Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Oxford has so much going for it. As Professor Dobson says, like Cambridge we are a globally-renowned centre for skills.

“But its not just about the university and science linked activities. Although those are important, so are the vast range of enterprising small businesses across the county.”

Almost three quarters of business leaders responding to the Oxfordshire Business Barometer felt their business would benefit in some way from Oxfordshire’s growing reputation for hi-tech excellence.