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

Improving access to information technology can help communities assess their own vulnerability and boost local planning, says John Waugh.

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.

Some Muslim countries' powerful financial incentives to make quick progress in research could backfire, cautions Athar Osama.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Cities face many social, economic and environmental challenges, and must facilitate innovation to cope with them, says an editorial in Nature Geoscience.

Plans for science collaboration in the Muslim world aren't working and need a major revamp, says Athar Osama.

Assessing each country's needs is key to ensuring that medical technologies fulfil their promise, say Sidhartha R. Sinha and Michele Barry.

Entrepreneurs are pioneering new modes of innovation to help poor farmers, and policymakers must support their creativity, says Andy Hall.

Ambitious plans for a 'desert development corridor' in Egypt could provide a concrete example of the social value of science, says Athar Osama.

Critics looking for more from the first African Innovation Outlook should realise it is a solid base on which to work, says Linda Nordling.