Research Councils

There are eight Research Councils in the UK, each of which is a non-departmental public body (NDPB) established by Royal Charter. The Research Councils fund and manage scientific research and training with the aim of improving the quality of life for citizens as well as contributing to the economic competitiveness of the UK. The fact that the councils were established by Royal Charter means that their research priorities are not dictated by political agendas. The Councils are also involved in knowledge transfer and raising public awareness of science and its benefits.

The Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) provides central focus for science, engineering, and technology issues across government, and this includes responsibility for the work of the eight Research Councils. The councils receive the majority of their funding from the annual Science Budget which is allocated by OST; the amount allocated to each council is determined by recommendations by the Director General of the Research Councils (DGRC), Professor Sir Keith O'Nions who is part of OST. It is the DGRC who has the responsibility to ensure the successful and high-quality operation of the Research Council in pursuit of their missions.

The eight Research Councils are:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
• Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Council (CCLRC)
• Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC)
• Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)