Partner organisations

BIS is supported by a wide range of partner organisations in delivering its strategic priorities. Our partners provide services, information and advice to the Department and directly to a wide range of people and organisations. We have nine executive agencies: Companies House, The Insolvency Service, the Intellectual Property Office, the Land Registry, the Met Office, the National Measurement Office, Ordnance Survey the Skills Funding Agency and the UK Space Agency. Read about how we make public appointments. See also the BIS Public Bodies Directory 2010

Science and research

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)

Supports world-class research that furthers our understanding of human culture and creativity.
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)

UK grant funding agency for academic research and training in biotechnology and biological sciences.
Council for Science and Technology

To advise the Prime Minister and the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales on strategic issues that cut across the responsibilities of individual government departments. CST organises its work around five broad themes (research, science and society, education, science and government, and technology innovation) and takes a medium to longer term approach.
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

The UK's leading research and training agency addressing economic and social concerns.
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)

The UK Government's leading funding agency for research and training in engineering and the physical sciences
Foresight

Foresight’s role is to help government think systematically about the future. We use the latest scientific and other evidence combined with futures analysis to tackle complex issues and help policymakers make decisions affecting our future.
Medical Research Council (MRC)

The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded organisation dedicated to improving human health. They support research across the entire spectrum of medical sciences, in universities and hospitals, in their own units and institutes in the UK, and in their units in Africa.
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)

NERC funds world-class science in universities and their own research centres that increases knowledge and understanding of the natural world. They tackle the 21st century's major environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity and natural hazards.
Research Councils UK (RCUK)

RCUK is a strategic partnership between the seven UK Research Councils to enable them to enhance the overall impact and effectiveness of their research, training and innovation activities, contributing to the delivery of the Government’s objectives for science and innovation. The seven councils are:
Science and Technology Facilities Council

The Science and Technology Facilities Council's mission is to promote and support: scientific and engineering research; post-graduate training in astronomy, particle physics, space science and nuclear physics; and research in any other field which makes use of scientific facilities made available by the Council the advancement of knowledge and technology and to provide trained scientists and engineers
UK Atomic Energy Authority

The UK Atomic Energy Authority was set up to research and develop nuclear power. The principle mission of the Authority is to capitalise on the major fusion assets at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), to advance fusion science and technology to the point of commercialisation, and to position the UK to participate in the future fusion-power economy.
UK Space Agency

The UK Space Agency is at the heart of UK efforts to explore and benefit from space.

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Partner organisations

Science and research