Ian Pearson - Easter Bush Research Consortium launch
Roslin Institute, Edinburgh - 7 April 2008

Good morning. I would like to begin by congratulating all partners, funders, and thanking the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Scottish Agricultural College for sponsoring the Roslin Institute and The University of Edinburgh for their involvement in creating a world class facility, and getting this far and organising this event today.

It is said that while Boswell and Johnson were on their travels around Scotland, the former remarked upon the latter's 'somewhat singular' choice of dry holiday reading, to which Dr. Johnson replied:

"Sir, if you are to have but one book with you upon a journey, let it be a book of science. When you read through a book of entertainment, you know it, and it can do no more for you; but a book of science is inexhaustible."

With that in mind, I spent my journey up here, yesterday, reading some science journals and papers, including one on the Roslin Institute. And your story certainly provides food for thought.

The Roslin Institute is one of the world's leading centres for studies relating to animal genetics and development. You have a long tradition of excellence in animal biosciences - first in the form of Dolly the Sheep, the first mammal to be cloned from an adult cell. And now, a decade later, with your development of transgenic chickens, capable of laying eggs containing proteins needed to make cancer-fighting drugs. This is truly a remarkable achievement and discovery.

I don't think even the venerable Doctor Johnson could have conceived of a future where all drug manufacturers might have to do to get life-saving medicines, is milk a common farmyard animal or crack an egg.

And by moving into the University of Edinburgh, you are adding to four centuries' worth of proud medical and scientific legacy; a legacy with much biological and scientific achievement including the discovery of chloroform anaesthesia, angina treatments and carbon dioxide, to name but three.

As David Hume mentioned the University has a rich history with alumni as laudable as Joseph Lister "the father of modern antisepsis", Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Darwin. I am looking forward to the many exciting events that are planned as part of the 200th anniversary of Darwin's birth and the 150 anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection. They will be an excellent showcase for UK science and help to promote the importance of science to our everyday lives.

As Professor Hume described, by joining forces with the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS), other partners and Easter Bush Research Consortium, you will become one of the largest groupings in the world focused on animal genetics, development, health and welfare.

I believe that the creation of the Easter Bush Research Consortium is a perfect example of the direction we want and need for scientific research to be moving in the UK.
In other disciplines this term of model bringing people in scale is what we want.

What you are doing today, by merging of research centres, you are creating an international powerhouse of world-class research with a strong infrastructure and training environment. As others have commented, this is particularly important in the biosciences because working together can yield major breakthroughs both academically and in application.

Science in the UK

The United Kingdom has a terrific research community - you are among the most efficient and productive in the world. Your discoveries benefit each one of us, every day of our lives.
And by advancing our understanding you're helping secure economic, social and environmental well-being for all.

Some of the discoveries exploited by Roslin have been exploited elsewhere and this is one of the best in the world.

We need the UK research-base to remain world-class, to attract best minds worldwide and to be at forefront of international collaboration. Science is international and is global.

Gordon Brown - both as Chancellor and as Prime Minister - understands that well. And that's why we've seen a sustained investment in science now for over a decade and we will continue to see real-term increases in the science budget over the next three years.

Research Centres and Consortiums like Easter Bush are critical to the economy: your research base attracts inward investment and generates spin-out businesses.

We must make sure that we derive every benefit from its discoveries - saving lives, feeding the world population etc, also, wealth creation for the nation and better health. That's why we have invested in Knowledge Transfer partnerships and created the Technology Strategy Board.

A strong element of our continuing success will be our ability to compete internationally. We are not the only nation that is investing heavily in science. The 'tiger economies' of China and India are the countries mentioned most frequently - but Singapore, Korea, Brazil Russia, many of the Middle East states and others are doing the same, engaging in what my predecessor, Lord Sainsbury called 'The race to the top'.

This is a challenge and an opportunity. It's clear that in our increasingly globalised world, international and multi-disciplinary collaboration will be key to our maintaining a position at the world leading science stage.

We need to focus more of our brightest research minds on the biggest challenges facing our planet. It is why the Government, through the research councils, is funding cross-disciplinary research into: 'living with environmental change', 'energy', 'global threats to security' and 'life-long health and wellbeing'. This is why it is important to attract the best minds ensuring we make the best strategic decisions for our society.

Naturally, we have no intention to undermine research that is curiosity driven. We must continue to invest in the fundamental research that is the bedrock of future discoveries and knowledge. It is not a question of funding pure or applied research - we must do both and increasingly the distinction between the two is becoming blurred. And our white paper 'Innovation Nation' published last month makes clear, new ideas don't arise through being prescriptive.

These are exciting times for UK science and places like the Easter Bush Research Consortium demonstrate why that is. I think that there is a feeling that we are on the verge of some really huge breakthroughs in the big issues of our generation.

The creation of my department - the department for Innovation, Universities and Skills reflects the fact that science is higher on the Government agenda than ever before.

My parting message to you today is that we will maintain our record investment in science, and work hard to create a society that is excited about and values scientific research and discovery and continue world class science and innovation.

I want research councils, universities and consortia to do that too - to stimulate debate in society about the opportunities and challenges surrounding your work. I hope you have an enjoyable and productive day. Thank you very much for inviting me here this morning.