SciDev.Net

CGIAR reforms take research decisions too far away, says Hartmann, director-general of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA).

Aid agencies, under pressure to prove their worth, should seize the opportunity to make spending more accountable, says Linda Nordling.

Countries need to produce their own vaccines, and they need to invest in public sector capacity to do it, says Indian scientist Y. Madhavi.

Pilot projects in India and Nigeria point to possible benefits of a new approach to agricultural innovation, say Andy Hall and Susanna Thorp.

Helping farm labourers access new technologies and knowledge should be a priority for policymakers, argues innovation expert Anil Gupta.

Policymakers must think outside the box to strengthen clinical research networks for global health, says Harvard researcher Jeff Blander.

Without knowing REDD's true costs we can't analyse the benefits, says the ASB Partnership for the Tropical Forest Margins' Peter A. Minang.

The United States should boost funding for food, health and water, says Thomas R. Pickering, former US ambassador to the UN.

Science and technology minister Professor Romain Murenzi says science and technology will be at the heart of Rwanda's development strategies.

Developing world businesses must invest in nanotech research and development for clean water to stay ahead, says Mohamed Abdel-Mottaleb.

Open innovation has potential to revitalise the development sector, providing new sources of creative knowledge and resources, says Tara Acharya.

Donors should fund the facilities needed to improve the conditions for research, as well as funding individual studies, says Berit Olsson.

African governments must invest in science training — but they don't have to go it alone, says Arlen Hastings.

When funders focus on market-driven and applied science they hinder basic scientific enquiry in developing countries, says Lemuel V. Cacho.

The developed world must make good on its financial promises to Africa — and everyone stands to reap the benefits, says Jeffrey Sachs.

The global financial crisis may soon make external funding much harder to get, warns Linda Nordling.

India should be inspiring science and technology graduates to stay in the sector, rather than building new institutions, says Anant Kamath.

Strengthening health research in the developing world needs a coherent approach with central oversight, say John-Arne Rottingen and colleagues.

Research collaborations with African institutions must be equal, fair and meaningful, says Damtew Teferra.

Africa needs postgraduate programmes that focus on local priorities to improve its health systems, say Wilson Savino and colleagues.