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

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

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

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

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

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.

The Islamic World Academy of Sciences has been challenged to build bridges. The hardest may be between disciplines, says Athar Osama.

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.

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

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

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

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

Islamic nations should form a 'forward bloc' on science for development to reverse a poor record of collaboration, argues Athar Osama.

The success of Latin American countries is held back by underinvestment in science, says development policy expert Francisco Sagasti.

A new southern African climate plan is impressive, but needs more funding if it is to plug the continent's data gap, writes Linda Nordling.

Young researchers in the developing world must get the support they need to help their countries alleviate poverty, argues Romain Murenzi.

Social media have shown the power of online collaboration — now online labs need to harness it, argues Olawale B. Akinwale.