Public Sector Research Establishments

Centre for Applied Microbiology & Research (CAMAR), Salisbury, Wiltshire 

• Part of Health Protection Agency, researching microbial hazards associated with healthcare
• Develops and manufactures diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic products
• Able to handle microbial pathogens at every scale from laboratory diagnosis to bulk manufacture of vaccines and other biopharmaceutical products
• Hosts the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC) which is one of the premier collections of authenticated cell cultures in the world

Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) 

• Sites in the South West include Porton Down, Winfrith, and Bincleaves
• Major areas of expertise include biotechnology; physical, chemical and medical research; and advanced materials
• Activities include world-class research in expedient surgical approaches, vaccine development, microbiological containment, drug evaluation and efficacy testing, toxicology, pharmacology, physiology, trauma and surgery, behavioural science, human science and animal breeding

Environment Agency

• 1000 staff (approx.) in the South West - SW HQ at Bristol, research facilities at Bath and Exeter, other sites in Bridgewater, Bodmin, Blandford Forum and Exminster
• Provides services in the area of environmental monitoring, control and protection with activities include environmental modelling, air quality monitoring, waste management, fisheries management, flood prevention and control, prevention of pollution and risk reduction of water resources

National Technical Authority for Information Assurance (CESG), Cheltenham

• Business arm of GCHQ
• Employs communications, IT and language specialists to intercept, decode and interpret intelligence across a broad spectrum of communication systems
• Provides advice and assistance on the security of communications and electronic data and provides technical expertise in the area of Information Assurance

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO), Taunton, Somerset

• World's premier supplier of paper charts and publications, with over 3300 navigational charts, 220 publications and a growing series of digital and web-based products, largest single customer is Royal Navy
• Exchanges scientific information with HEIs (eg; University of Plymouth) that have strong expertise in navigational systems, Geographical Information Systems and other related areas

Meteorological Office, Exeter, Devon

• Provides general public and many industries with meteorological services and weather forecasts and collects distributes and publishes meteorological information from all parts of the world and undertakes research related to meteorology and climate
• Research and technical strengths in meteorology; computer modelling; data collection, transfer, processing and presentation; and atmospheric and ocean chemistry and physics

Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA), Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire

• membership-based organisation who's R&D programme reflects needs identified by industrial members with purpose built training centre and dedicated information service
• undertakes R&D in industries associated with agriculture, food and drink manufacture, distribution, retailing and food service
• provides a constantly renewable knowledge base for technology transfer through a continuous programme of investment in processing and analytical facilities for research and contract work

Water Research Centre, Swindon

• 300 staff providing innovative technology based consultancy services to water, waste and environmental industries
• strong R&D base, working with government, regulatory bodies and other organisations impacted by regulations
• WRc manages Portfolio, a £1.5million programme of collaborative research in the water, wastewater and environment industry which aims to address topical problems in the industry through promoting innovation, sharing research costs and leveraging budgets/experience.

Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth

• PML is an independent and impartial collaborative centre of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• primary driver of research activity at PML is to carry out fundamental, core strategic and applied research of a world-class standard
• works collaboratively at national and international level (eg; formal academic partnership agreements such as Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership and PML University Network)

Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Swindon

• undertakes high quality, internationally recognised research in land and freshwater environments
• national and international customers in government, academia, industry and commerce
• collaborates in Europe-wide scientific activities, through the science programmes of the European Union, and through our membership of PEER (Partnership for European Environmental Research) and EurAqua.

Brixham Environmental Laboratories, Brixham

• BEL became part of the AstraZeneca organisation in 1999
• provides a multidisciplinary service to industry for the investigation and resolution of environmental issues and regulatory testing
• the Laboratory supports chemical and related businesses world-wide with assessments of the environmental safety of new and existing products and of the manufacturing processes they operate

Institute of Arable Crops Research

• government-funded grouping of private organisations providing scientific research relevant to plant-based agriculture
• undertakes research with the objective of achieving improvements in rural and agricultural economies that are financially, environmentally and socially sustainable
• research activities involve: understanding and exploiting genetic biodiversity among populations of organisms detrimental and beneficial to agriculture; understanding the population dynamics and genetics of agricultural ecosystems; describing and understanding the mechanisms determining the spatial and temporal distribution of invertebrate pests and their natural enemies.

Institute of Grassland & Environmental Research, Devon

• Devon is one of four IGER research sites in the UK undertaking contract or commercially sponsored projects funded by Government or other agencies, underpinned by basic and strategic research funded by BBSRC
• Carries out research to determine viable options for grassland-dominated landscapes and land use systems that lead to a sustainable rural economy, a multi-functional healthy environment, and a safe and high quality food chain