Dr James Martin, an influential computer scientist, last year pledged $50m to the James Martin 21st Century School (that he founded back in 2005) on the condition that his donation be matched by others. Now, a year on, the full funding has been raised with contributions from George Soros and senior private equity investors amongst others. Martin, an honorary Doctor of the University of Warwick and author of over 100 books, stated: ‘When the matched funding scheme was announced, many people said this is crazy timing as this is the worst economic crash in recent history… (However) some foundations and wealthy individuals give money in bad times if the cause is exceptionally important.’ The School, which draws on international experts and a glittering advisory board of nobel laureates and leading business executives, seeks to provide strategies for responding to some of the world’s most urgent problems. Research topics are as diverse as the future of cities, vaccine design, fuel security and economic stability. The chair of Oxford’s overall fundraising body, Oxford Thinking, called the matched funding initiative ‘an inspired way to spur philanthropists, charities and funding bodies to give’.
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