Introduction

The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) objectives are:

• to promote high quality scientific and engineering research by providing facilities and technical expertise in support of basic strategic and applied research programmes;

• to support the advancement of knowledge and technology, meeting the needs of research councils, other customers and their user communities, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the UK and the quality of life;

• to provide advice, disseminate knowledge, and promote public understanding in the fields of science, engineering and technology as engaged in by the Council.

CCLRC was established on 1 April 1995 as an independent Research Council under the Science and Technology Act 1965. Its Royal Charter was granted by Her Majesty the Queen on 14 December 1994.

CCLRC provides leading-edge, large scale research facilities and skills in many disciplines. The Central Laboratory comprises three sites in the UK the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, the Daresbury Laboratory and the Chilbolton Observatory. The facilities are used by over 10,000 researchers each year from the UK and overseas. Their research covers topics from what lies inside the components of atoms to the design of drugs, materials and chemical processes.

CCLRC receives no direct funding; its funding arrangements are designed to separate the functions of purchaser and provider. Its programmes and facilities are paid for through agreements with the other Research Councils, and contracts with Government departments, international partners and bodies, and industry. Its own research competes for funding from grant giving bodies.

The Council of eight men and two women is appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Six members are drawn from the funding Research Councils and the academic and industrial communities served by the Council, and four are full-time employees, including the Chairman and Chief Executive.

Achievements in 1996/97

The Council continued to serve the UK Science Base and its industrial and international customers. Its main programmes centred on:

• ISIS, the world's most intense source of pulsed neutrons and muons, which are used as a probe for studies in physics, chemistry, materials science, earth science, engineering and biology;

• the Synchrotron Radiation Source, using bright x-rays for biological science, materials science, surface science, atomic and molecular science and engineering;

• the Central Laser Facility, with high-power lasers for research in plasma physics, materials science and biology, and tunable lasers for research in all fields of science and engineering;

• the UK particle physics programme based at overseas laboratories. CCLRC co-ordinates the programme and provides support in electrical and mechanical engineering design and construction, superconducting magnet research, design and construction, computing and networking;

• space science programmes in astronomy and earth observation. CCLRC provides instrumentation and test facilities, a satellite control and communications station, contributes to forthcoming missions and enables the exploitation of data from instruments already in orbit;

• microelectronics, microstructure and nanostructure services including e-beam and focused ion-beam machines, excimer lasers and chemical processing facilities, computer aided design, advanced macro- and micro-machine tools and a superconducting test facility;

• national supercomputing facilities supporting research in environmental modelling, engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, physics and astrophysics;

• the Chilbolton radar, the world's largest fully steerable meteorological radar which supports research in radiocommunications, meteorology and other environmental activities.

Plans for 1997/98

CCLRC's broad objectives are:

• to optimise deployment of resources on programmes and facilities, delivering outputs and performance which satisfy customers and users;

• to maintain and develop major facilities and plan for their successors in accordance with users' needs and demands;

• to expand non-Research Council turnover to broaden the financial base of the Laboratory and enhance the opportunities for technology transfer from research into wealth creating industry;

• to continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations and reduce running costs.

• CCLRC contributes to the implementation of the Government's Technology Foresight programme in four key areas: materials; sensor technology; convergence of information technology; electronics and communication.

The principal policy challenge for the next five to ten years relates to the replacement of the portfolio of world class facilities managed by CCLRC, which is valued at more than £350 million. Some facilities have clear development potential while others are nearing the end of their useful lives and will soon need replacement.

Key Performance Targets

The Council is establishing and agreeing top level performance measures with the Office of Science and Technology, its sponsor Department. Comprehensive performance targets are in place for its scientific facilities, which can be reviewed in their annual reports or on the World Wide Web. The current operational status of ISIS and the Synchrotron Radiation Source, and up to date performance statistics, can also be accessed on the Web.