Scientific research partnership: north-south and south-south.

Scientific research can contribute much to solving many urgent global problems. However, research must be conducted in a global context and, in particular, must be extended to the countries of the South. If this is to be done, the research capacities of those countries must be considerably expanded and consolidated. Swiss strategy for promotion of research in the developing world is primarily devoted to this aim. Problems of general concern must be solved by joint efforts, which means in development-oriented, long-term, interdisciplinary research partnerships. In this context the requisite training of everybody involved can be conducted in a continuous way. Partnership is a severely taxing activity. In six points it is shown that today the greater portion of the Swiss research community does not yet meet these requirements. Despite relatively scarce funds, the time has come to review the Swiss university world in this respect also.