IGER merger proposed

Wednesday 21 March 2007
Changing the face of land-based science in Wales and beyond
The University of Wales Aberystwyth (UWA) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have held further discussions to explore whether the future governance and assets of the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) sites in Wales should transfer to the University sector in Wales.

The Universities of Aberystwyth and Bangor (UWB), IGER, BBSRC, Welsh Assembly Government and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales met in Cardiff on 16 March 2007 to consider a way forward and a broad timescale.

UWA, UWB and IGER have proposed that the unique mix of skills, facilities and capacity represented by UWA, UWB & IGER Plas Gogerddan should merge to deliver an internationally-competitive centre of excellent science, innovation and economic benefit for the international pastoral land use sector and beyond. BBSRC has agreed to give detailed consideration to the proposals which will be discussed further by the BBSRC Council in April. Although BBSRC has announced plans for IGER North Wyke to transfer under the management of Rothamsted Research, it is envisaged that this would not prevent ongoing or new collaborations with researchers based in Wales and elsewhere.

All parties anticipate that the complex discussions and process will progress as a matter of priority, building on a positive discussions. If agreement is reached in principle, the proposals will be presented to the partner institutions' Governing Bodies for ratification.

The Director of IGER, Professor Chris Pollock, said “I am delighted by the progress made today. It's a good start to a long journey, but the opportunities for science and innovation that will emerge when we complete the journey will be of huge benefit to Wales and the rest of the UK”.

Professor Noel Lloyd, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales Aberystwyth said ‘this is a tremendous opportunity, which builds upon the existing Research and Enterprise Partnership between the Universities of Aberystwyth and Bangor, to create a word-class centre for research and innovation in the biological, environmental and land use sciences in Wales”.