SciDev.Net

After 2006's commitment to one per cent GDP spending on science, is Africa keeping up, falling behind or investing, asks Linda Nordling.

Maternal health needs a new, pragmatic, research-led approach targeted specifically for developing countries, says Priya Shetty.

India should offer to make its national action plans part of a global climate deal in Copenhagen negotiations, says Rajendra K. Pachauri.

Three Nature articles display mixed feelings about the success of Pakistan's higher education reforms.

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

Intellectual property must be protected to encourage technical innovations in agriculture, says Javier Fernandez of CropLife Latin America.

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

A UNITAID patent pool could revolutionise HIV treatment and research in developing countries — if payment can be agreed, says Priya Shetty.

Establishing an effective science–policy interface is key to combating biodiversity loss, say Harold Mooney and Georgina Mace.

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

Encouraging cooperation and aligning interests is key to dealing with global challenges, say Brian Walker and colleagues.

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

Following its higher education reforms, Pakistan's success in creating a research culture is still uncertain, say Athar Osama and colleagues.

Governments must do more to support research published in local journals and make it visible, says South African scientist, Wieland Gevers.

Moves to introduce biotechnology to Africa must consider the needs and values of local people, argues socioeconomist Wilhemina Quaye.

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

Agricultural researchers in the North and South must work together to help farmers boost crop yields, says agriculturalist Adel El-Beltagy.

In a letter to Science, Venezuelan minister of science Jesse Chacón rejects criticisms of scientific guidance under the Hugo Chávez government.

After decades of so-so attempts to harness Africa's scientific diaspora, a model for collaboration remains elusive, says Linda Nordling.

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