a) To keep abreast of the latest science and technology developments through the establishment of linkages through local, regional and international institutions of learning and centres of Science and Technology (S&T) research.

b) To establish the Scientific Research Council as a primary source of S&T information and advisory services to meet national development needs.

c) To sensitize the nation to the importance and value of S&T and to provide an environment which encourages creativity and innovation.

Tissue Culture Technology

d) To develop new products and processes to satisfy existing demand and to stimulate future demand for local Research and Development.

e) To conduct research with emphasis on national industrial development and to bring developed technologies into a state of utilization through adaptation to local conditions.

f) To pursue Research and Development effort in the context of sustainable development and environmental protection.

g) To increase productivity and improve quality through the application of S&T.

h) To generate income in order to become self-sufficient.

In order to fulfill the mandate of the Council and to ensure relevance of the outputs of the SRC to the needs of the Jamaican people, be it the agro-industrial sector, small farmers or community groups, the SRC will provide quality services to its customers by applying the following strategies:

1. Agro-industrial research and sustainable development of natural resources with emphasis on food processing, wastewater, biotechnology, bioextraction of nutraceuticals, essential oils and other natural products;

2. Transfer of technologies developed or adapted by the SRC with focus on sorrel based products, and general food processing technologies in the creation of new industries, enhancing the international competitiveness of existing businesses and improving the marketability of Jamaican products.

3. Technical assistance advice and support to target groups, in focus areas including food processing, wastewater management, tissue culture, mushroom production and analytical services.

4. Strengthening of the Waste Research, Management and Training Centre to meet the needs of its niche market.

5. Promotion of the anaerobic wastewater treatment technology as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly technology for adaptation in various sub-sectors of the Jamaican market, to reduce treatment costs and generate value-added products.

6. Production and delivery of disease free plantlets at cost-effective levels to satisfy contractual agreements.

7. Operation and maintenance of a semi-commercial mushroom spawn facility to meet local demand.

8. Commercialization and divestment of new products.

9. Facility/infrastructure improvement.

10. Development of the Natural Products Unit, both in terms of infrastructure and human resource to support the development of a nutraceutical industry and reviving of the essential oils industry.

11. Capability enhancement through training and development of scientific staff in specialized areas for product and process development and/or improvement.

12. Provision of energy information and coordination of energy-related projects for Caribbean member countries.

13. Provision of S&T Information Inquiry and Referral services to satisfy internal and external requests, in a sustainable and timely manner.

14. Production of S&T publications and establishment and management of specialized databases, collections and technology packages.

15. Inventors/innovators programme to support this unique target groups in production of new or adapted technologies for national applications.

16. Science and technology education programme to strengthen the formal education programme in S&T.

17. Popularization of science and technology through S&T month activities including the annual S&T conference.

18. Increased services to rural and underserved communities through activities of the outposts.

19. Techno-intelligence services in support of industries and internal activities.

20. Electronic linkages of information resources.

21. Accreditation of analytical services and certification of the Quality Management System.

22. Development of a more aggressive marketing programme to forge a greater number of contractual agreements with industry in the priority areas.

23. Use of information and computer technologies including specialized databases, a local area network and the Internet to strengthen communication internally and externally and to improve the operations, information and knowledge management capabilities of the SRC.

24. Policy advice and formulation related to national issues

25. Strategic alliances with local, regional and international agencies.