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Inorms 2023: Various forms of partnership need different levels of institutional support, consultant tells conference
Research partnerships and collaborations at any level need to be based on respect, trust and aligned interests, a consultant has told the annual conference of the International Network of Research Management Societies.
Building these elements takes time, attendees at the Inorms event in Durban, South Africa, heard from UK-based Ian Carter (pictured) on 31 May. And creating fair, equitable and long-lasting partnerships is “challenging”, he warned.
How much institutional support will be appropriate depends on the level at which the partnership takes place, he said. Partnerships between individuals in different institutions require only “very light touch” institutional support, but institutions must provide the “right environment”, such as by allowing space and time for collaboration and by funding travel and enabling virtual communication.
Collaboration between groups in different institutions requires more institutional support, as well as analysis and selection of which collaborations warrant this extra effort. Funding for visits, PhD scholarships and other forms of “pump-priming” could be needed.
Institutional partnerships require the most support, Carter said, including multi-year budget commitments, dedicated resources, regular management and monitoring and perhaps the use of a “preferred collaborator” approach.
Environment and culture
Individual collaborations happen naturally, whereas group partnerships can build on those individual links or on areas of institutional strength. If institutional strength is the driver, the groups’ views must be taken into account, Carter said, adding that forced collaboration is not likely to work.
Institutions typically want to partner with stronger counterparts, he said, but this means that both must see the benefits.
Partnering only for money is generally a bad idea, Carter warned. Where one contributor to a partnership is better resourced, they may need to think about what extra resource they are willing to contribute.
Ultimately, all forms of partnership are about creating the “environment and culture” for research, he concluded.
Research Professional News is media partner for the Inorms 2023 conference in Durban. Read all of the coverage here.