The BBSRC is one of seven Research Councils that work together as Research Councils UK (RCUK). They are funded by the Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Their budget for 2014-2015 is around £509M (£459M on research and capital grants and £50.5M for training and fellowships), and they support around 1600 scientists and 2000 research students in universities and institutes across the UK.

Synthetic biology is a strategic priority area of the BBSRC as it is developing rapidly and is applicable to a wide range of biological problems. It could help to solve a number of major global challenges in fields including health and wellbeing, energy, food security and the environment.