Africa lags behind other developing regions in local collaboration — and in building its own scientific capacity, says Linda Nordling.

South Sudan's prosperity depends on more public universities serving more students — and focussing on S&T, not humanities, says John A. Akec.

Open innovation is key to the success of iHub and can change the working culture of any community of innovators, says Linda Kamau.

English may be the language of science, but students learn better and contribute more when taught in their local tongue, says Giovanni Tapang.

Rio+20 should set up a scientific cooperation mechanism drawing on capabilities in both North and South, say Gisbert Glaser and Alice Abreu.

Countries are using innovative schemes to train and retain health professionals — but they need support, says WHO expert Manuel M. Dayrit.

Arab Spring revolutionaries turning to governance must adopt knowledge and innovation as barometers for progress, says Athar Osama.

Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan of Jordan discusses how global cooperation on science can benefit a knowledge-hungry world.

Angola has the money, connections and political will to be a force in African science. But will it tackle inequality, asks Linda Nordling.

Josette Sheeran, executive director of the UN World Food Programme, argues for programmes that build sustainable food security.

North-South partnerships dominate university funding in Tanzania, but they are failing to build capacity, says Johnson M. Ishengoma.

India's IT sector offers solutions for local problems — but entrepreneurs need help getting innovations to market, says Vineeta Dixit.

Few science centres offer hands-on experience for young people in Africa. Support is needed for an expansion plan, says Graham Durant.

Indian science is bureaucratic and needs to keep up with the demands of liberalisation, says M. Vijayan.

'Boundary organisations' offer a space away from politics for scientists to engage government officials with their research, says Scott Drimie.

Desertec, an ambitious solar power project in the Middle East and Africa, should be more transparent and participatory, argues Athar Osama.

Low levels of science literacy must be tackled by improving China's science media and encouraging scientists to get involved, says Li Daguang.

Nuclear power can benefit developing countries but requires long-term planning and an educated workforce, says Michael J. Mangala.

To see the research they fund in action, donors should work with good local governance, not informal networks, writes Justin O. Parkhurst.

Health scientists in developing countries can use social media to tackle research priorities, argue Alexander E. T. Finlayson and colleagues.