The UK has strong capabilities in bioscience through a combination of world-class academic research and a vibrant mix of small and medium-sized companies operating in the industrial biotechnology arena.

We also have a world-class science base in plant and microbial sciences (with BBSRC spending approximately one third of its budget on plant/crop based science) and a number of centres of excellence with established links to industry.

Increases in the UK's standard of living will offer greater opportunities for the cosmetics, food, drink and lifestyle industries. Plant and animal genomics can enhance food security by increasing productivity, and enhance food safety by eliminating mycotoxins/pathogens.

In the food processing industry, process optimisation, automation and robotics, in or at-line analytics can enhance the UK's competitiveness. Support for genomic-based sciences, diagnostic techniques and rapid bioprocessing methods should boost the generation of new animals and crops, reproductive technologies, new vaccines and anti-infectives.

The challenge of climate change and the need for renewable fuel and feedstocks are global and, as a result, offer UK organisations significant market opportunities in areas such as improved/next generation biofuels, new crop varieties, biocatalysts and biorefinery design.

The number of patent applications as well as academic publications on the subject are an indication of the strength of UK bioscience. During the period 1997-2001 the UK proved to be the strongest European nation in life science research, when measured on publications and citations, and second to the US in the top 100 most-cited papers*.

The Technology Strategy Board believes that we can support the UK to realise its potential to become  world leader in this area - at the heart of the most dynamic region in the developing bio-based economy.

*The Scientific Impact of Nations, D A King, Nature, 430: 311-316, 2004