17 June 2009 
 
Reference: FOI-83 
 
Dear Ms Roberts, 
 
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION 
 
I am writing in response to the request you made to BBSRC under the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000 for information relating to our policy on Intellectual Property. 
 
BBSRC is one of seven Research Councils funded by the Government Department 
for Business, Innovation and Skills.  BBSRC’s current budget is £450M.  It supports 
around 1,600 scientists and 2,000 research students in universities and institutes in 
the UK.   
 
BBSRC’s mission is: to promote and support high-quality basic, strategic and applied 
research and related postgraduate training relating to the understanding and 
exploitation of biological systems; to advance knowledge and technology, thereby 
contributing to the economic competitiveness of the UK and quality of life; and to 
generate public awareness, communicate research outcomes, encourage public 
engagement and dialogue, and disseminate knowledge.  Further information on 
BBSRC’s mission can be found at: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/organisation/mission.html.  
 
BBSRC publishes guidance on research grant funding in the form of the Research 
Grants Guide:  http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/apply/grants_guide.pdf.  This includes 
guidance on exploitation and impact of research outcomes.  Sections RG22 (p45) 
and GC21 (p60) refer. 
 
Also publicly available on the BBSRC website, is our policy on Intellectual Property:  
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/publications/policy/intellectual_property_policy.pdf.  As stated 
within this policy, BBSRC positively encourages the exploitation of the results of all 
research it sponsors at universities, colleges and other research institutions in order 
to enhance the competitiveness of UK industry. 
 
If you have any further queries about BBSRC’s Intellectual Property policy, please 
contact BBSRC’s Intellectual Property and Commercial Manager, Donald Mair, 
([email address]). 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
 
 
Mr Ben Aubrey 
Freedom of Information Officer 
BBSRC 
 
 

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Complaints Process 
 
If you are dissatisfied with how we have handled your request, you may register a 
formal complaint with the BBSRC Complaints Officer at 
[email address], who will conduct an internal review.  
 
If you are not happy with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to 
apply directly to the Information Commissioner, Information Commissioner’s Office, 
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, Tel: 01625 545700, 
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.  
 

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