The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) SAPs play a key role in helping to shape our research and innovation portfolios and consist of experts and stakeholders from across the biosciences research base, private sector businesses, learned societies, and wider society.
There are five SAPs, aligning with the BBSRC Forward Look for UK Bioscience.
Three address the strategic challenge areas of:
- Bioscience for Sustainable Agriculture and Food
- Bioscience for Advanced Materials and Clean Growth
- Bioscience for an Integrated Understanding of Health.
The remaining two address the cross-cutting themes of:
Each of the above panels meet twice per year and are made up of six to eight core members, supplemented when required with additional subject matter experts, according to business need. Core panel members are expected to be able to commit five to six days each year to activities related to the strategy panel including panel meetings and meeting preparation, and up to another five to six days each year for involvement in other activities, such as reviews, or time-limited Task and Finish Groups.
Panel members are appointed from a pool of applicants based on the following criteria:
- understanding of research, training and innovation within the Panel remit
- awareness of societal, ethical and legal considerations with relevance to the Panel remit
- knowledge of industrial perspectives and experience of working with businesses to realise the impacts of bioscience research
- awareness of emerging tools, technologies and ways of working which are helping to advance the frontiers of bioscience discovery.
This expertise allows our panels to provide BBSRC with the following:
- strategic advice on: BBSRC’s investment portfolio and its place within the wider bioscience research and innovation landscape; and BBSRC’s research and innovation priorities relevant to the panel’s remit
- horizon scanning and identification of emerging opportunities and advice on the most effective strategic intervention
- constructive challenge and assurance that BBSRC’s developing ideas, policies and strategies are fit for purpose, taking account of all necessary stakeholder perspectives
- monitoring and benchmarking of existing activities and investments, and their impacts.
The SAPs therefore play an integral role in ensuring that BBSRC remains at the forefront of bioscience research and innovation.
Last updated: 16 March 2023