Engineering Biology Steering Group
The Engineering Biology Steering Group was the expert group that supported engineering biology policy work undertaken by DSIT and its collaborating departments.
This group has closed
The Engineering Biology Steering Group was set up to advise and assist government on the development and delivery of the detailed action plan to follow from the National Vision for Engineering Biology.
In December 2024 it was replaced by the Engineering Biology Advisory Panel.
The group was setup to make sure the department delivered on its published commitments in the National Vision, assessing progress and updating recommendations to shape priorities for implementation.
The group addressed the following policy workstreams:
- research and development
- infrastructure
- talent and skills
- regulations and standards
- uptake by the economy
The group compromised of members who spoke to all engineering biology application areas, and brought insights from academia, SMEs and larger industry.
Second, the EBSG also provided a function as a two-way channel between government and the wider sector. This allowed DSIT to understand the views of the entire sector, while also making sure stakeholders knew they had a way to engage with DSIT and could be heard.
Membership
- Co-chair: Minister for Science, Research and Innovation
- Co-chair: Professor Paul Freemont, Professor of Structural and Synthetic Biology in the Department of Infectious Diseases, Imperial College London
- Professor Dame Angela McLean, Government Chief Scientific Adviser
- Professor Jason Chin, Non-Executive Board Member
- Nigel Scrutton, Founder of C3 Biotech
- Sara Holland, Patent Attorney, Potter Clarkson
- Derek Woolfson, Professor of Synthetic Biology at Bristol University
- Paul Mines, CEO Biome Technologies
- Oliver Sims, Venture Capitalist at Octopus Ventures
- Joe Healey, CEO Nanosyrinx
- Tom Ellis, Professor of Synthetic Biology at Imperial College London
- Will Milligan, CEO Extracellular
- Eriko Takano, Professor of Synthetic Biology at Manchester University
- Reuben Carr, Head of Chemical Biology at Ingenza
- Susan Rosser, Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Edinburgh
- Anna Perdrix Rosell CEO of Sixfold Bio
- Anne Osbourn, Professor at the John Innes Centre
- Dr Harry Destecroix, Founder of Science Creates Incubators, Partner at SCVC
- Simon Chell, VP of Biologics Engineering at Astra Zeneca
Terms of reference
Terms are fixed to 3 years in length. Members can run for a maximum of 2 terms. Initial appointments was made by Minister Griffith. Once established the membership and HMG will run an expression of interest to identify future members.
Register of interests
The EBSG’s membership registered with the secretariat all interests and conflicts of interest they had in regard to the sector and to topics discussed in meetings.
Contact details
Email engineeringbiology@dsit.gov.uk.