About Us
Six Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) sponsored by four Government Departments in Great Britain have agreed to work more closely together for the public good. On the 12th July 2005 the Chief Executives of:
- The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
- The Central Science Laboratory
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
- The Health and Safety Laboratory
- The Health Protection Agency
- Veterinary Laboratories Agency
signed a co-operation agreement between their laboratories to cover areas of strategic and operational importance where this may be of mutual and collective benefit.
The six laboratories have complementary responsibilities and undertake complementary activities in providing science and technology-based advice and research to their parent departments and other public and private organisations. Forum members are committed to scientific excellence and to transferring the knowledge created by their scientists into the economy. The signatories of the agreement share best practice in people and capability development, relationships with universities, managing and exploiting intellectual property and managing conflicts of interest.
Here's what the Chief Executives say ...
"ILF has given us the opportunity to stand back from some of the day to day issues that we have been tackling individually and work together to offer an even better level of scientific support across Government Departments"
Frances Saunders, Chief Executive, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory
"CSL welcomes the opportunity to share experience across the main national Laboratories in order to improve national resilience in responding to emergencies" Michael Roberts, Chief Executive, Central Science Laboratory
"The combined capacity of the ILF is unique to the UK, and the synergies we gain from our networks really can make a difference to our Government customers and public alike" Richard Judge , Chief Executive, Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science
"The forum is proving to be increasingly effective in realising and releasing synergies between it members and other Public Sector bodies, to the benefit of the public, the Government and Public Sector bodies alike" Eddie Morland, Chief Executive, Health and Safety Laboratory
"The InterLab Forum has made significant progress in harmonising emergency response and crisis management capabilities. Two key examples are the Buncefield oil depot explosion in 2005 and the Polonium-210 radiation poisoning in 2006" Pat Troop, Chief Executive, Health Protection Agency
"The forum is an excellent opportunity for us to all share our unique skills, expertise and facilities so that we can provide a much better service to the public" Steve Edwards, Chief Executive, Veterinary Laboratories Agency