The Crick is among 60 universities and research institutions across the UK to backing a pledge to support science technicians.
The Technician Commitment is a sector-wide initiative, led by the Science Council and supported by the Gatsby Foundation, that aims to address key challenges facing technical staff working in research who don't always benefit from the same opportunities as others.
The commitment identifies four target areas to improve and safeguard vital technical skills. The pledge will ensure greater visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians across all disciplines. The impact of actions taken in support of the commitment will be evaluated regularly to ensure their effectiveness.
University vice chancellors and directors of research institutes from across the UK have recognised the need to protect skills by fully using and developing technical expertise in their organisations.
Paul Nurse, Director for the Francis Crick Institute, said: "Laboratory research staff play an important role in research at the Crick and are pivotal to our long-term success. I am delighted to be involved in the Technician Commitment, and to be pledging support on behalf of the Francis Crick Institution in recognition of the contribution technicians make."
