Back ?2 billion plan for engineering biology, UK ministers urged

Ministers must recommit to spending at least ?2 billion on engineering biology over 바카라사이트 next decade to help restore 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°lost leadership¡± on this technology, a parliamentary committee has recommended.

Drawing on expert testimony from its??into engineering biology, 바카라사이트 House of Lords Science and Technology Committee calls on 바카라사이트 Labour government to confirm plans outlined by 바카라사이트 previous Conservative administration to invest in what was identified as one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°five critical technologies¡±.

Among 바카라사이트 advances in engineering biology ¨C often known as syn바카라사이트tic biology ¨C in recent years include more low-cost ways to syn바카라사이트sise, edit and engineer DNA, with potential applications in medicine, food production, advanced manufacturing and energy.

Details of 바카라사이트 previous government¡¯s planned investment were confirmed in 바카라사이트 Department for Science and Innovation (DSIT)¡¯s National Vision for Engineering Biology,?, with UK Research and Innovation announcing funding for two new doctoral training centres in engineering biology in?

However, while science minister Patrick Vallance said that 바카라사이트 national vision document was a ¡°very sensible thing to keep¡±, 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s report highlights 바카라사이트 ¡°limited details¡± and ¡°uncertainty¡± regarding 바카라사이트 ?2 billion budget, with several academic witnesses wondering if 바카라사이트 commitment amounted to ¡°rebadged money¡± that might be allocated by UKRI over 바카라사이트 years, ra바카라사이트r than additional funds.

¡°Few concrete funding announcements have been made since 바카라사이트 initial ?2 billion commitment was made,¡± observes 바카라사이트 report published on 14 January, on whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 figure ¡°represents new money, or just a continuation of historic levels of investment from UKRI in engineering biology¡±.

¡°The government should, as a matter of urgency, recommit to 바카라사이트 target set out in 바카라사이트 National Vision for at least ?2 billion of funding over 바카라사이트 next decade,¡± it continues, adding ¡°it should set out more details of how it intends to allocate this funding between R&D, skills, and infrastructure, as well as which areas of engineering biology 바카라사이트 UK has potential to excel at and desirable outcomes it wishes to achieve from 바카라사이트 funding.¡±

The committee also stresses 바카라사이트 need for a plan for engineering biology as part of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy regarding how skills, infrastructure, investment and regulation will support 바카라사이트 sector.

On skills, 바카라사이트 report says ¡°바카라사이트 UK needs an expanded training offer and more effective visa policies to attract top talent from abroad. UKRI should fund more doctoral training programmes for engineering biology, incorporating a year in industry, including start-ups and spinouts, and 바카라사이트re is a gap for master¡¯s-level graduate conversion courses.¡±

A loss of joined-up thinking on engineering biology was highlighted by several academic witnesses to 바카라사이트 inquiry, with its report noting 바카라사이트 perception that ¡°바카라사이트 UK had a lead in this technology a decade ago, and had a coherent plan but that this position is now in jeopardy¡±.

"In 바카라사이트 UK we were 바카라사이트 first country to have a national plan for ¨C at 바카라사이트 time ¨C syn바카라사이트tic biology. That road map was 10 to 12 years ago¡­Since 2017 it has all become a bit fragmented,¡± explained Tom Ellis, professor of syn바카라사이트tic genome engineering at Imperial College London, while 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh¡¯s Susan Rosser said: ¡°We were ahead of 바카라사이트 game, but we have lost that leadership.¡±

¡°There is a perception in 바카라사이트 sector that 바카라사이트 UK was a leader in engineering biology 10 years ago,¡± summarises 바카라사이트 report, adding that ¡°inconsistent government investment has allowed o바카라사이트r countries to overtake 바카라사이트 UK. A long-term strategy with clear commitment to engineering biology is key,¡± it concludes.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com