R&D funds levied on business must build organisations that offer short-term benefits through a clear strategy, says Athar Osama.

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

Deep-rooted philosophies discourage data sharing and specialised research services, hampering research quality, says Peng Gong.

South-East Asia has suffered from neglecting planning for disasters. Governments must heed the warnings and act now, argues Crispin Maslog.

Encouraging demand for new and increasingly cheap interventions available now can boost health in developing countries, says Charles Kenny.

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

Africa must make sure its grassroots innovations can benefit from a new global green technology support mechanism, argues Linda Nordling.

The proposed UN World Environment Organisation is badly needed to give poor countries a strong voice in green policy, says Zakri Abdul Hamid.

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.

The scientific community should create new intergovernmental organisations that promote innovative science in Africa, says Calestous Juma.

The developing world is not well served by traditional research publishing, but can break new ground with open access, argues Leslie Chan.

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

Chuluun Togtokh calls for a change to the UN's current human development index, which "celebrates gas-guzzling developed nations".

Pragmatism must trump profit when African leaders commit to a green development agenda, argues Linda Nordling.

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.

The East Africa famine calls into question the wisdom of investing in early warning systems without improving take-up, writes Linda Nordling.