By Dave Prescott.
I’ve just returned from a major scientific gathering, one of those energising, horizon-expanding conferences that remind you just how much extraordinary work is being done in the world. Imagine halls full of scientists from across the globe, sharing breakthrough research in everything from climate-resilient crops to digital libraries of agricultural innovation. I left inspired—by the people, the ideas, and the possibilities.
But as inspiring as the science was, a nagging thought stayed with me: why isn’t more of this changing the world?
Take the banana gene bank, for instance. I met a researcher who told me about the 1,700 types of bananas catalogued and stored for posterity. These varieties could support agricultural biodiversity, improve nutrition, bolster resilience to disease, and reduce the need for pesticides. And yet, this treasure trove of agricultural wealth is, in her words, “gathering dust.” Why? Because the world doesn’t know it exists. Or if it does, it doesn’t understand why it matters.
This isn’t an isolated case. Time and again, I saw how potentially transformative science was falling short of its potential, not because the research wasn’t excellent, but because it was isolated. The bottleneck wasn’t knowledge or solutions, it was connection.
At The Partnering Initiative, we talk a lot about capacity sharing. It’s a simple but powerful idea: rather than assuming we’re here to “build capacity” in others, we recognise that all partners bring valuable strengths. Effective partnering means knowing what you have to offer, understanding what others bring, and finding the synergies that lead to impact.
This mindset is still rare in many research institutions. Scientists are trained to focus on depth and rigour—which is essential—but are often missing the opportunities to collaborate across sectors or communicate with audiences beyond their own. They’re left with world-changing knowledge that too often doesn’t make it out of the lab.
The good news? This is a solvable problem—and an incredible opportunity.
We’re already seeing signs of change. At the conference, one senior leader framed it perfectly: “We need to move from saying, ‘Here’s our science, please find a way to use it’, towards, ‘What do you need, and how can we help?’” That’s the kind of strategic, outward-facing thinking that creates genuine partnership and real-world results.
Partnering won’t solve everything. But in a world where funding is tight and global challenges are urgent, it’s one of the most powerful tools we have. By developing the skills to build effective, equitable collaborations, scientists and research organisations can turn brilliant ideas into meaningful change.
Imagine a future where every breakthrough comes with a clear path to impact. Where scientists are not just experts in their fields, but strategic actors who know how to work across sectors, cultures, and disciplines. That’s the opportunity in front of us. At a time when there is so much difficult news and so many challenging trends, it’s inspiring to know that the solutions DO exist and are often sitting right in front of us.
Interested in developing you partnering skills? Check out our upcoming partnership courses or dive into our knowledge centre.
