Bridging the Knowledge Divide: How Can We Mitigate Marginalization in Global Research?
Advancing Research for a Fairer Future
Article 6 - How Can We Mitigate Marginalization in Global Research?
Global research disparities are not random or
unchangeable. They stem from structural, economic, linguistic, and
institutional factors—but with focused effort, collaboration, and new
priorities, these gaps can be reduced. This article explores practical strategies
for promoting research equity, empowering marginalized voices, and ensuring
that science truly serves a global public good.
Increase and Diversify Research Funding
Direct investment
stands as the most potent instrument for cultivating robust research ecosystems.
This principle is visually represented in Figure 1.
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| Figure 1 - A Comparaison between marginalized and empowered institutions |
To foster thriving research
environments, a concerted effort is required from various key stakeholders:
●
Increased Support for Capacity Building: Governments, international organizations (such as UNESCO and the
World Bank), and philanthropic bodies must significantly amplify their
financial and logistical support for capacity building initiatives within low-
and middle-income economies. This renewed commitment, as highlighted by UNESCO
in 2025, is crucial for closing the global knowledge divide and empowering
these regions to contribute more fully to scientific advancement.
●
Prioritizing Underrepresented Regions and Institutions: Funding initiatives must be strategically directed towards
regions and institutions that have historically been underrepresented in global
research. This prioritization should encompass comprehensive support, including
the establishment and maintenance of basic research infrastructure (such as
laboratories and equipment), the recruitment and retention of skilled research
staff, and the provision of competitive salaries to attract and retain top
talent.
●
Leveraging Innovative Funding Models: The adoption of innovative models has already demonstrated
considerable promise in accelerating research development. These include:
○
Matching Funds: Mechanisms where external funding is contingent upon local
contributions, encouraging shared responsibility and sustainable investment.
○
South-South Cooperation: Collaborative research endeavors between developing countries,
fostering knowledge exchange and shared solutions tailored to specific regional
challenges.
○
Regional R&D Partnerships: Alliances between academic institutions, industry, and government
within a specific geographical area, promoting synergistic research and
development efforts that address local needs and foster economic growth.
By combining direct investment with
these strategic approaches, the global community can effectively bridge the
knowledge divide and unlock the full potential of research and innovation
worldwide.
Foster Global Partnerships and Equitable Collaboration
Real research progress truly flourishes through genuine collaboration. However, the current landscape of international partnerships often exhibits a significant imbalance. Institutions in the Global North frequently assume the roles of lead authors or Principal Investigators (PIs), while their counterparts in the Global South are relegated to supporting positions. This imbalance is a well-documented issue, highlighted by various sources (Phys.org, 2025; Lancet, 2023).
To address this disparity and foster more equitable and impactful collaborations, several key actions are necessary:
●
Promote Equitable Authorship and Leadership: Funding agencies and universities hold significant power to drive
change. They should implement requirements for equitable authorship in
North-South collaborations, ensuring that credit is fairly distributed based on
contribution. Crucially, they must actively support and facilitate lead roles
for scholars from developing countries, empowering them to steer research
initiatives and contribute their unique perspectives from the outset.
●
Strengthening Regional and South-South Networks: Investing in and supporting regional research hubs, robust
South-South research networks, and truly cross-continental consortia is vital.
These initiatives help to decentralize leadership and influence, fostering a
more distributed model of research governance. By building capacity and
connections within Global South, these networks can generate locally relevant
research and amplify diverse voices.
● Ensure Community-Driven Research Agendas: For research to be truly impactful and relevant, its agendas must be set with active and meaningful input from the communities and scientists who are closest to the issues being investigated. This participatory approach ensures that research addresses real-world challenges, aligns with local priorities, and leverages Indigenous knowledge and expertise. It moves away from a top-down model to one that is truly collaborative and responsive to the needs of the populations it aims to serve.
Reform Academic Publishing
The entrenched
dominance of English-language academic journals and the prevalent North
American and European composition of editorial boards significantly contribute
to and perpetuate the exclusion of diverse voices and perspectives within
global scholarly discourse (Phys.org, 2025; University World News, 2025). This
imbalance hinders the equitable dissemination of knowledge and reinforces
existing power structures within academia. See Figure-2 for a visual
representation of this disparity.
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| Figure 2 - Different
strategies to promote Equitable Access to Research |
To address this critical issue and
foster a more inclusive and equitable research landscape, a series of concerted
actions are imperative, particularly from the journals themselves:
●
Actions for journals: ○ Increase diversity of editorial boards: It is crucial to actively recruit and include scholars from the Global South and marginalized communities on editorial boards. This diversification will bring a wider range of disciplinary expertise, regional insights, and cultural perspectives to the peer-review process, ensuring that research relevant to a broader global audience is recognized and published. ○ Incentivize multilingual publication: To break down language barriers, journals should encourage and incentivize multilingual publication. This could involve publishing abstracts or even full papers in multiple languages, thereby making research accessible to a much wider international readership who may not be fluent in English. Implementing translation services or providing guidelines for author-provided translations could facilitate this. ○ Reduce or waive publication fees: Publication fees, particularly article processing charges (APCs), often pose a significant barrier for researchers from low-income countries, effectively excluding them from participating in global scholarly communication. Journals must implement policies to reduce or waive these fees for authors from such regions, ensuring that financial constraints do not impede the dissemination of valuable research. ● Expand open-access infrastructure: Beyond journal-specific actions, there is a fundamental need to
expand and strengthen open-access infrastructure globally. This expansion aims
to make research universally available, removing paywalls and subscription
barriers that limit access to knowledge. Special emphasis should be placed on
making research readily accessible in areas that hold particular relevance and
importance to marginalized communities, empowering them with the information
necessary for their development and well-being. This includes supporting open
repositories, advocating for open-access mandates, and exploring alternative
funding models that prioritize equitable access over profit. |
Build Institutional Capacity and Support Local Research Priorities
● Long-term capacity building that responds to
local contexts is key.
●
Prioritize
funding and technical assistance for universities, institutes, and research
networks in low-resource settings (UNESCO, 2025; Lancet, 2023).
●
Support
training programs for emerging scholars, mentorship exchanges, and leadership
development.
● Design research programs and grants around
questions identified by local communities and scientists—not just imported
priorities.
Case
Example:
African-led medical research networks (such as those fighting malaria or Ebola)
have produced world-leading results when provided with sustained local
leadership and support.
Democratize Access to Knowledge, Data, and Technology
Fostering Inclusive Global Scientific Discourse
To cultivate a
truly inclusive global scientific conversation, it is imperative to dismantle
existing barriers to participation. This involves a multi-pronged approach
focused on accessibility, localization, and infrastructure development.
Embracing Open Science Initiatives
A cornerstone of this effort is the widespread adoption and support of open science principles. This entails:
●
Freely Accessible Data: Research data, often the bedrock of scientific discovery, must be
made openly available to all researchers, regardless of their institutional
affiliation or financial resources. This not only promotes reproducibility and
validation but also enables new analyses and collaborations that might not
otherwise occur.
●
Open Access Publications: The traditional model of subscription-based journals creates
significant hurdles for researchers in less-resourced regions. Shifting towards
open access publishing ensures that scientific findings are readily available
to a global audience, accelerating knowledge dissemination and application.
●
Open Analysis Tools: Proprietary software and analytical tools can be prohibitively
expensive. Promoting and developing open-source analysis tools allows
researchers worldwide to engage with data and conduct rigorous analyses without
financial constraints, fostering a more equitable playing field.
Localizing Global Knowledge
While universal access to scientific information is
vital, its utility is significantly enhanced when it is adapted and made
relevant to local contexts. This includes:
● Supporting Translation: Language barriers can be a significant impediment to knowledge transfer. Investing in accurate and culturally sensitive translation of scientific literature, guidelines, and educational materials into local languages is crucial.
● Contextual Adaptation: Beyond mere translation, global scientific knowledge often needs to be adapted to address specific local challenges, cultural nuances, and existing knowledge systems. This might involve re-framing concepts, incorporate local case studies, or develop tailored educational programs. This process empowers local communities to apply global insights effectively.
● Community Engagement: Actively involving local communities and experts in the adaptation process ensures that the knowledge is not only understood but also truly resonates with their needs and priorities.
Expanding Internet and Research Infrastructure
The pervasive issue of the digital
divide continues to be a substantial impediment to widespread participation in
global scientific endeavors. Overcoming this complex challenge necessitates
considerable strategic investment across several critical domains:
●
Internet Connectivity: The Foundation of Modern
Research
Reliable, affordable, and
high-speed internet access is not merely a convenience but a fundamental
prerequisite for engaging in contemporary scientific research. Its absence
effectively isolates researchers from the vast global repository of knowledge
and limits their ability to contribute meaningfully.
Expanding robust internet infrastructure, with a particular focus
on underserved rural and remote regions, is paramount. This expansion enables
researchers to seamlessly access online databases, digital journals, and
cutting-edge research tools.
Furthermore, it facilitates crucial remote collaboration with
international peers, fostering a sense of interconnectedness within the global
scientific community. Ultimately, consistent and high-speed internet empowers
researchers to efficiently disseminate their own groundbreaking work to a wider
audience, accelerating the pace of scientific discovery and application
worldwide.
●
Research Facilities and Equipment: Catalysts for
Innovation
Beyond the crucial aspect of
connectivity, many regions worldwide grapple with a severe lack of adequate
physical research infrastructure. This deficiency encompasses a spectrum of
critical resources, including well-equipped laboratories capable of conducting
sophisticated experiments, specialized instruments essential for advanced
analysis and measurement, and dedicated research centers that serve as hubs for
collaborative innovation.
Investing strategically in development, modernization, and
continuous upgrading of such facilities is absolutely critical. These
investments empower local researchers to conduct cutting-edge research that
aligns with global standards and contributes substantively to the collective
advancement of scientific knowledge.
Without proper facilities and equipment, even the most brilliant
minds are constrained in their ability to translate ideas into tangible
scientific progress.
●
Sustainable Power Solutions: Ensuring Operational
Continuity
A is frequently overlooked but
equally significant challenge in many underserved areas is the lack of
consistent and reliable power. This intermittent or non-existent electricity
supply directly impacts the effective operation of essential research
equipment, from sensitive laboratory instruments to critical internet access
points.
Promoting and vigorously
implementing sustainable energy solutions, such as solar, wind, or hybrid
systems, to power research infrastructure is a vital component of long-term
development strategies.
This is visually represented in
Figure-2. By ensuring a stable and environmentally friendly power supply,
research endeavors can proceed uninterrupted, safeguarding valuable data,
enabling continuous experimentation, and maintaining the vital digital connections
that underpin modern scientific collaboration.
By comprehensively and strategically addressing these three interconnected areas – ensuring widespread internet connectivity, investing in robust research facilities and equipment, and establishing sustainable power solutions – the global scientific community can progressively move closer to realizing an equitable and truly inclusive system.
In such a system, knowledge is not only generated and discovered but
also universally shared, deeply understood, and effectively applied by all
segments of humanity, ultimately for the collective benefit of societies
worldwide.
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| Figure 3 - Strategies to Improve Global Knowledge Access |
Recommendation:
National governments and funders can commit to
open science as the default for all publicly supported research principle
embedded in the SDGs and UNESCO declarations.
Address Systemic Barriers and Bias
Marginalization extends beyond mere material deprivation; it is deeply embedded within cultural norms and institutional structures. To effectively address this multifaceted issue, a comprehensive approach is required, focusing on systemic changes within the scientific community and beyond.
Firstly, fostering genuine equity and inclusion
is paramount. This necessitates active support for gender equity, racial
diversity, and the meaningful inclusion of underrepresented groups at every
level of research. This ranges from the foundational lab staff who conduct
daily experiments to the critical roles of grant reviewers who shape research
trajectories and institutional leadership who set the strategic vision.
As highlighted by Phys.org in 2025, a truly diverse scientific ecosystem, reflecting the full spectrum of human experience, is more innovative, robust, and capable of addressing complex global challenges. This includes actively recruiting and mentoring individuals from diverse backgrounds, implementing inclusive hiring and promotion practices, and creating environments where all voices are valued and heard.
Secondly, to truly combat inequalities, we must illuminate them. This means actively funding research that specifically investigates disparities within science itself. By making these existing gaps visible through rigorous empirical study, we can develop a clear understanding of their root causes, their manifestations, and their impact.
This research will provide the actionable insights needed to design and implement effective interventions. Such studies might explore disparities in funding allocation, publication rates, career advancement, or the representation of certain groups in specific research fields.
Finally, addressing implicit and explicit
biases is crucial for a fair and equitable scientific landscape. This involves
developing and implementing robust guidelines and comprehensive training
programs to mitigate these biases in all critical stages of the research
lifecycle.
This includes the initial funding application
and review processes, the peer review, and editorial decisions in publishing
systems, and even the evaluation of research impact.
As noted by the Lancet in 2023, these biases,
often unconscious, can subtly yet significantly disadvantage individuals from
marginalized groups, hindering their access to resources, recognition, and
opportunities.
Training should focus on recognizing and
challenging biases, promoting objective evaluation criteria, and fostering a
culture of accountability and transparency.
This
comprehensive approach, encompassing active support for diversity, dedicated
research into inequalities, and targeted interventions against bias, is
essential for dismantling the multi-layered forms of marginalization that
persist within the scientific endeavor.
Promote Policy Reform, Monitoring, and Accountability
To genuinely bridge the knowledge divide and foster a more equitable global scientific landscape, several critical actions must be undertaken. These actions aim to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure that research endeavors benefit all of humanity, not just a select few.
Integrate Research Equity into National and International Science Policy
Firstly, it is imperative to integrate research equity into national and international science policy. This means moving beyond aspirational statements and embedding principles of equity directly into the frameworks that govern scientific funding, collaboration, and dissemination.
On a national level, this could involve creating dedicated funding
streams for underrepresented researchers, mandating diverse representation on
grant review panels, and establishing clear guidelines for equitable research
partnerships between institutions within a country.
Internationally, this would entail developing multilateral
agreements that prioritize capacity building in low and middle-income
countries, ensuring fair intellectual property sharing, and fostering genuinely
collaborative research agendas that address global challenges from diverse
perspectives. Policy changes should be legally binding and regularly reviewed
to ensure their effectiveness and adaptability to evolving global needs.
Metrics to Measure Inclusion in Research Leadership, Outputs and Funding
Secondly, the development of metrics
to measure inclusion in research leadership, outputs and funding is
crucial. Without concrete data, it is impossible to accurately assess progress
and identify areas for improvement.
These metrics should go beyond simple headcounts and delve into
qualitative aspects of inclusion. For example, in research leadership, metrics
could track the representation of diverse groups in senior academic positions,
on editorial boards of major journals, and as principal investigators on large
grants.
For research outputs, metrics could analyze authorship diversity,
the geographical reach of research impact, and the extent to which research
addresses local community needs. In funding, metrics should track not only the
amount of funding allocated to different regions or demographic groups but also
the types of research supported and the accessibility of funding opportunities.
These metrics must be standardized, transparent, and regularly
collected and reported.
Ensure that these Policies and Metrics Lead to Tangible Change
Finally, to
ensure that these policies and metrics lead to tangible change, it is essential
to hold institutions, governments, and
international funders accountable through regular reporting and independent
evaluations.
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| Figure 4 - Strategies to Strengthen Research Equity |
Accountability is
the cornerstone of progress. Institutions, whether universities or research
organizations, should be required to publish annual reports detailing their
efforts and progress towards research equity, including their diversity
statistics, funding allocation patterns, and community engagement initiatives.
Governments, as major funders, and shapers of national science
policy must be held accountable for implementing and enforcing equitable
policies, with clear mechanisms for public oversight. International funders,
often dictating the flow of significant research capital, must be independently
evaluated on their commitment to equity, transparency in their funding
decisions, and the long-term impact of their investments on research capacity
and equity in beneficiary regions.
These evaluations should be conducted by impartial bodies with the
authority to recommend sanctions or incentives based on performance, thereby
creating a powerful impetus for genuine reform and a more equitable global
scientific enterprise.
These
interconnected actions, when implemented comprehensively and with sustained
commitment, will pave the way for a more inclusive, impactful, and ultimately,
more just scientific future.
Embrace Digital and Technological Solutions
●
Digital platforms serve as powerful tools for bridging divided
knowledge by fostering connections among scholars, enabling seamless remote
collaboration, and facilitating the emergence of more affordable publication
models. To fully leverage this potential, strategic investments in digital
infrastructure are crucial.
This includes providing robust cloud computing services, ensuring widespread access to high-speed internet, and developing comprehensive digital libraries, particularly in regions that currently suffer from limited access to these vital resources.
●
Beyond infrastructure, these online networks are instrumental in
cultivating resilient research communities. Such communities, fortified by
digital connectivity, are better equipped to withstand localized disruptions,
whether they stem from global pandemics, political unrest, or other unforeseen
challenges.
Furthermore, these networks serve as vital conduits, effectively integrating regionally focused research efforts into the broader global academic system, thereby promoting a more inclusive and interconnected landscape for knowledge creation and dissemination.
Mitigating marginalization in
global research is a multifaceted challenge, yet it is demonstrably achievable
through strategic and concerted efforts.
A comprehensive, multipronged
approach is essential, encompassing several key areas: significant investment
in research infrastructure, fundamental reforms within the publishing and
collaboration ecosystems, a proactive prioritization of inclusive in all
research endeavors, and the implementation of robust accountability mechanisms
for all stakeholders.
By diligently pursuing these
measures, the global scientific landscape can be transformed, evolving into a
genuinely collective human project that truly reflects and serves the profound
richness and diversity of our world.
This transformation ensures that every individual, regardless of their geographical location or socioeconomic status, has an equitable stake in, and contributes to, humanity's most significant intellectual and scientific advances.
Investing in Infrastructure: A critical first step involves channeling substantial resources
into developing and upgrading research infrastructure in marginalized regions.
This includes not only physical laboratories and equipment but also robust
digital infrastructure, ensuring reliable internet access and access to
computing power necessary for modern research.
Furthermore, investing in human capital through extensive training programs for researchers, technicians, and support staff is paramount. This ensures that local researchers are equipped with the skills and knowledge to conduct high-quality research independently and collaboratively.
Reforming Publishing and Collaborations: The current global research publishing model often perpetuates
marginalization. Reforms are needed to dismantle barriers to access, such as
exorbitant publishing fees and paywalls, which disproportionately affect
researchers from under-resourced institutions.
Promoting open access models and
equitable peer-review processes that value diverse perspectives are crucial.
Additionally, fostering genuinely equitable collaborations, rather than
extractive partnerships, is vital.
This means moving beyond one-way data extraction or tokenistic involvement and instead fostering partnerships built on mutual respect, shared ownership, and reciprocal knowledge exchange, ensuring that local researchers are not just data collectors but equal intellectual partners.
Prioritizing Inclusivity: True inclusivity in global research extends beyond geographical representation; it encompasses diverse epistemologies, methodologies, and research questions. Research agendas should be co-created with communities, ensuring that the research addresses local needs and priorities.
This also
means actively challenging biases within research design, data collection, and
interpretation, promoting culturally sensitive approaches, and valuing Indigenous
knowledge systems alongside conventional scientific methods.
Fostering diverse research teams, reflecting gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity, can lead to more innovative and impactful research outcomes.
Holding
Stakeholders Accountable: Finally,
ensuring accountability across the research ecosystem is non-negotiable.
Funding bodies, academic institutions, publishers, and individual researchers
must be held accountable for implementing equitable practices.
This can involve developing clear
metrics for inclusiveness, transparency in funding allocation, and mechanisms
for reporting and addressing discriminatory practices.
International bodies and agreements can play a significant role in
setting global standards and monitoring progress towards a more equitable
research landscape. Through rigorous oversight and a commitment to shared
responsibility, the vision of a truly global and inclusive scientific
enterprise can become a reality.
Reference List
●
Lancet
Regional Health Southeast Asia. (2023). Regional and international
collaboration: key to quality research in south Asia. Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, 9, 100160. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10305997/
● Nature Index. (2023). 2023 Research Leaders:
Leading countries/territories. https://www.nature.com/nature-index/research-leaders/2023/country/all/global
● NSB [National Science Board]. (2023).
Publication Output by Region, Country, or Economy and by Scientific Field.
National Science Foundation. https://ncses.nsf.gov/pubs/nsb202333/publication-output-by-region-country-or-economy-and-by-scientific-field
● Phys.org. (2025, April 30). Study reveals
significant underrepresentation of Global South in climate science. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-reveals-significant-underrepresentation-global-south.html
● UNESCO Institute for Statistics [UIS]. (2025,
March 7). Explore the latest progress on SDG 9.5 Research and Development. https://uis.unesco.org/en/news/Explore-latest-progress-on-SDG9.5-Research-Development-through-key-indicators-February2025
●
University
World News. (2025, May 9). Study exposes inequity in global research on medical
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