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BBSRC Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 HC ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2007-2008 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2007-2008 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State, and by the Comptroller and Auditor General, in pursuance of Schedule 1, Sections 2 [2] and 3 [3] of the Science and Technology Act 1965. Ordered to be printed by the House of Commons 16 July 2008. HC761 LONDON: The Stationery Office £18.55 Contents PART 1: MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY Chairman’s statement 1 Chief Executive’s report 3 Supporting world class research 6 Key funding data 7 Embedding Systems Biology 11 Major collaborative and multidisciplinary programmes 12 Delivering economic and social benefits 14 Collaborative research with industry 14 Commercialising research outputs 17 Tackling major challenges 20 People, skills, training and knowledge flows 22 Embedding our science in society 26 Opinion gathering and public dialogue 26 Outreach and engagement 28 Engaging young people in science 29 Corporate information 30 2007-2008 Council 30 Boards, Panels and Committees 31 Organisational developments 36 Financial review 39 Remuneration report 42 PART 2: ANNUAL ACCOUNTS Financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2008 45 This Annual Report covers the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008. BBSRC ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS BBSRC ANNUAL The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), established by Royal Charter in 1994, is the UK’s principal funder of basic and strategic research across the biosciences (www. bbsrc.ac.uk). It is funded primarily by the Science Budget, through the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). Our mission is to support high-class science and research training, and to promote knowledge transfer in support of bio-based industries and public engagement in bioscience. BBSRC works collaboratively with its sister Research Councils through Research Councils UK (RCUK). © Crown Copyright 2008 The text in this document (excluding the Royal Arms and other departmental or agency logos) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium providing it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context. The material must be acknowledged as Crown copyright and the title of the document specified. Where we have identified any third party copyright material you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. For any other use of this material please write to Office of Public Sector Information, Information Policy Team, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU or e-mail: [email protected] Chairman’s statement During the year we have made further significant progress in delivering economic and social impact from the research we fund. First, we have made commitments to increase funding to support collaborative research with industry and through the Technology Strategy Dr Peter S Ringrose Board. Second, we are introducing new processes to ensure that both our grant funding and our support for training and skills development address scientific International and national awards, as well as key scientific areas of priority to UK industry, as well as academic publications, are important indicators of the success of our scholarship. Third, we are increasing support to enable science; and several examples are provided in this report. scientists to commercialise the outputs of their research. Sometimes it may be tempting to take the excellence of our Fourth, we have reviewed, and learned lessons from, research base for granted; such is the UK’s track record. To current knowledge transfer activities and industry- do so would be unwise. This excellence is the foundation of academic partnerships in our sponsored institutes and in all of our activities; and continuing to invest in and reinforce university departments, in order to develop increasingly it remains our number one priority. We have increased effective translation. support for activities that enable researchers in the UK to develop new research technologies, resources and modes At the end of this reporting period, in May 2008, it was a of working that optimise their flexibility and generate new particular pleasure to welcome Ian Pearson MP, the Minister scientific opportunities. This includes more support for larger REPORT & ACCOUNTS BBSRC ANNUAL for Science and Innovation, and Professor Jackie Hunter of research teams and projects, for embedding systems and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) to speak at ‘Bioscience:Biomillions’. other multidisciplinary approaches, and for networking to In this event we showed examples of the contribution that build research capacity in emerging areas of new bioscience bioscience research makes to the UK economy and policy such as synthetic biology. We are also successfully evolving making. Mutual recognition of the symbiosis between institute-based science to maintain key national capabilities excellent fundamental science and innovation, by and to achieve longer term sustainability, notably through Government, industry and the research community, is one of science-led strategic mergers and more tightly focused the best guarantees we have that the UK can maintain its programmes that deliver for both national policy requirements world pre-eminence in bioscience. and world-class science. Although my term as Chairman of BBSRC continues until April 2009, this will be my last Annual Report. I would like to record my thanks for the hard work of all of those who have 2007-2008 served on the Council over the past years. Together we have addressed several very challenging areas. Scientifically, we have helped the UK to progress rapidly in highly competitive areas such as systems biology and the informatics and post genomics technologies. Strategically, we have re-focused 1 institute-based bioscience and given a new impetus to its role in the UK science base. In all of these areas, we have been very ably supported by the BBSRC executive office in Swindon and the staff of the institutes and by the members of our boards, panels and committees. Speakers at ‘Bioscience:Biomillions’ where we celebrated the achievements of around 50 researchers whose science has I would like to record my thanks to Professor Julia Goodfellow made a major contribution to innovation and public policy in who left BBSRC in August 2007. I also record my and recent years. From left to right: BBSRC Interim Chief Executive, the Council’s gratitude to Steve Visscher who has very Steve Visscher; Council member and Senior Vice President of GlaxoSmithKline, Professor Jackie Hunter; Ian Pearson effectively led BBSRC since, including through the very MP, Minister of State for Science and Innovation; and BBSRC challenging period following the FMD outbreak at Pirbright, Chairman, Dr Peter Ringrose. and the complexities associated with ensuring that institute infrastructures and governance best support the science. “Bioscience researchers in the UK have not only pursued excellent, world-class research, but they have also been active in ensuring that we Dr Peter S Ringrose all benefit from their efforts. In order to remain June 2008 globally competitive and meet the future challenges of living within our environmental limits, it is vital that bioscience researchers continue to maximise the positive economic and social impacts of their research and activities.” Ian Pearson MP Minister for Science and Innovation Humfrey Malins MP with Drs David Schley and Zhidong Zhang during his visit to IAH Pirbright as part of the Royal Society’s MP-Scientist pairing scheme. Steve Visscher, BBSRC Interim Chief Executive, The UK National Stem Cell Network was launched Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State for Science in 2007, with support from four Research and Innovation, and Professor Wayne Powell, Councils, including BBSRC which also provides 2007-2008 Director Designate of the Institute of Biological, media support. Environmental and Rural Studies, Aberystwyth University, at BBSRC’s ‘Bioscience:Biomillions’ event in May 2008. ‘Hope not Hype’, the joint BBSRC/MRC touring exhibition on stem cell science was presented at the Cheltenham Science Festival in 2007. BBSRC ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS BBSRC ANNUAL 2 The Rt Hon. John Denham MP, Secretary of Steve Killeen, Chair of the Environment State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, Research Funders’ Forum (ERFF) discusses officially opened the RCUK China Office with how electricity can be generated from waste, the Chinese Vice-Minister for Science and at the BA Festival of Science in York. BBSRC Technology, Mr Li Xueyong, as part of a special took part in the event organised by ERFF, UK-China symposium in November 2007. which showcased research by University of Birmingham scientists (see page 21). Her Excellency Madame Fu Ying, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, officially opened the new Meditrina, the newest Bioincubator building at the Babraham Research Campus. With her are (left to right): Richard Ellis, Chair EEDA ( East of England development agency); Paul Whiteway, Head of International Sales, UKTI (UK Trade & Investmen); Professor Michael Wakelam, Director of Babraham Institute; Sir Robin Young, Chair East England International; Mr Wang Yonghui, Chairman of the Board of Guangzhou Xiangxue Pharmaceuticals Co.; and Dr David Hardman, CEO Babraham Bioscience Technologies Ltd. Chief Executive’s report Five elements have been critical in shaping BBSRC’s activities during the year. They are an extremely good allocation from the Science Budget with allocations rising by 22% over the three years to Steve Visscher £471M in 2010-2011,
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