Research underpins much of the progress that has been made towards realising the Millennium Development Goals. Technological and social development research has helped to reduce child and adult mortality, make water safe to drink, and increase the amount of food that can be grown.

But in general global research systems are failing the poor. Over 90% of medical research for example, addresses the health concerns of rich countries. Less than 1% of funds are used to develop vaccines against tropical diseases. Research into improving the staple food crops of the poor is very limited. Poor countries are being by-passed by the rapid technological gains achieved by the rest of the world. The world is divided not just by poverty, but by technology, and the investment priorities of the North.

Research systems need to work better for the poor to help them face present and future challenges. Almost certainly we need to increase our financial investments in such research. But doing ‘more of the same’ is not the answer. We also need to reconfigure the way in which we invest in, and manage, research.

The rapid rise in technological innovation has been driven by a transformation in the way in which research systems are managed. A similar transformation is now needed in low-income countries, and in global research systems that impact on poor people.

Approaches that we believe will improve research innovation include:

• The use of alternative financial instruments to create a market for merit-good technologies. Research prizes, advance purchase contracts and Intellectual Property Buy-Outs are some examples that create outcome-based incentives for both public and private research systems;
  
• Helping the poor to gain the capacity to engage with, and participate in, public and private research, and to ensure that their agendas and needs are fully considered by the research community; and
  
• Building research networks in order to capitalise on the knowledge and expertise of other research players. Too much research is conducted in isolation of others: cooperation between different countries, between the public and private sector, and between donors, is weak. New partnerships, including Public Private Partnerships and Global Challenge Programmes, help capitalise on the strengths of different players in a global research system.

theIDLgroup works with local and national research systems, international networks and with donors to help them improve the way in which they support research. We:

• Review ongoing research investments and provide advice on ways in which current investments can be strengthened, informed by the latest thinking in research management;
  
• Develop new instruments for research management, in partnership with key stakeholders, to ensure that new approaches are owned and championed by those responsible for making the change; and
  
• Produce ‘think pieces’ on innovative ways in which research can be managed. We have a reputation for ‘thinking outside of the box’ and contribute to donor and government understanding of the different ways of investing in, and delivering, better research outcomes.

Examples of Relevant Experience

We have reviewed major DFID investments in agricultural research in Kenya, Bangladesh and Nepal (over 20 reviews since 1992).

We have developed new research management instruments. Examples include the establishment of a competitive research fund within the National Veterinary Research Institute in Indonesia, the creation of user-driven research in Uganda, and the formation of a Global Public Private Partnerships for Livestock Vaccines.

We have helped national research institutes transform themselves into more multi-disciplinary, outcome-focused organisations. Examples of our involvement in substantive management of change processes include the 2nd National Agricultural Research Programme in Kenya, and strategic planning in the Nepal Agricultural Research Council.

Our papers on demand-led research, and on public private partnerships, have paved the way for new thinking on research systems.