Introduction

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council's mission is:

• to promote and support high-quality, basic, strategic and applied research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and exploitation of biological systems;

• to advance knowledge and technology, and provide trained scientists and engineers, which meet the needs of users and beneficiaries (including the agriculture, bioprocessing, chemical, food, healthcare, pharmaceutical and other biotechnological related industries), thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom and the quality of life;

• to provide advice, disseminate knowledge, and promote public understanding in the fields of biotechnology and the biological sciences.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is established by Royal Charter and was formed on 1 April 1994. It incorporates the former Agricultural and Food Research Council with the work in biotechnology and biological sciences programmes of the former Science and Engineering Research Council.

BBSRC supports research in sponsored institutes, research centres and UK university departments. Decisions on the funding of specific programmes and projects are taken by committees with representation from the academic community, industry and other users.

Responsibility for determining policy and strategy rests with the BBSRC Council, which currently consists of a Chairman, the Chief Executive and 14 other members including five university scientists, five industrialists, and three members of Government departments.

Achievements in 1996/97

BBSRC:

• funded research which resulted in: the identification of the gene for an enzyme which degrades chlorophyll in ageing leaves; the development of new methods for studying protein structure and function; and the isolation of a gene which governs the overall architecture of flowering in plants;

• secured 50% industrial funding for £4m of equipment in universities and research institutes;

• launched a New Entrepreneurs Scheme with the BioIndustry Association;

• signed a concordat with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, with a commitment to work together on the career management of scientists;
  
• introduced a three-tier fellowship scheme, to provide opportunities for scientists at different stages in their careers.

Citizen's Charter

• a document outlining Standards of Performance in administering grants was published.

Competition

• BBSRC funding of specific-applied research was opened to a wider range of providers, including private sector, not-for-profit bodies, research council institutes, Government Research Establishments and agencies;

• greater competition has been introduced to BBSRC's strategic funding of research institutes, which will be based on a comparative assessment of each institute's performance;

• a programme of prior options reviews confirmed the value and status of the eight BBSRC-sponsored institutes.

Private Finance Initiative

• BBSRC and the Institute for Animal Health concluded a £1.5m PFI-type contract with a housing association for the provision of student/visitor accommodation at the IAH Compton site.

Investors in People

BBSRC office is committed to the development of an Action Plan for achieving IiP status.

Plans for 1997/98

• multidisciplinary research initiatives will be pursued through a number of recently launched programmes

• new research programmes will be launched in a number of areas, including structural biology and integrative biology;

• support for bioinformatics will continue, through a joint initiative (with EPSRC) and a four-year contract funding the Computational Molecular Biology Service (SEQNET).

• research on transmissible spongiform encephalopathies will remain a priority;

• support research relevant to the EQUAL (Extending Quality Life) initiative, including diet and health and neurosciences;

• the New Entrepreneurs Scheme will be expanded;

• intellectual property awareness activities and exploitation initiatives will be enhanced, as will industrially relevant training through Cooperative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE), industrial CASE, industrial CASE partnerships and the Teaching Company Scheme;

• dialogue with social scientists will be encouraged, to inform BBSRC and its scientists of the wider social context of research.

Key Performance Targets
	1994/95		1995/96		1996/97		1997/98
Key Measure	Set	Achieved	Set	Achieved	Set	Achieved	Set
HQ Office Costs as % of net science budget (%)	­	4.7	­	4.3	4.3	4.2	4.0
HQ Office Costs as % of net Total Council budget (%)	­	3.2	­	3.1	­	3.0	2.9
Mean annual cost of administering a project research grant	­	115	­	67	58	54	54
Council income administered per FTE Staff Member	­	845	­	1,044	1,069	1,077	1,153
PQs, Ministerial & Select Committee correspondence completed on time (%)	­	100	­	100	100	100	100
Business Plans actions completed on time (%)	­	n/a	­	92	90	95	90