A new report from Elsevier and Research4Life has found that researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are increasingly active in global research but continue to face significant challenges in securing funding, building collaborations, and publishing their work.
Published during Research4Life's 25th anniversary year, the report, New Horizons in Participation: Strengthening Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, is based on a survey of 1,122 researchers and insights from interviews with more than 100 institutional research leaders. The study examines factors affecting researchers' ability to participate in and lead international research activities.
According to the report, more than half of the world's published researchers are now based in LMICs, compared with 13% in 1994. Despite this growth, many researchers continue to encounter barriers throughout the research process. While 59% of respondents reported participating in international collaborations during the past three years, 54% of finding suitable platforms and partners remains a major challenge. Only 51% felt they had equal opportunities to publish in international journals.
The survey found that securing research funding remains a significant concern. Although 52% of respondents had applied for funding during the previous three years, nearly half cited limited international support and partnerships as barriers to obtaining grants. Funding success rates were reported to be lowest in low-income countries and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
The report also identified concerns about an emerging divide in the use of artificial intelligence. Institutional leaders indicated a need for clear guidance on responsible AI use in research and expressed concerns that unequal access to advanced AI tools could widen existing research disparities between LMICs and higher-income countries.
Additional findings revealed that authorship and publishing challenges persist. Nearly one-quarter of surveyed researchers reported experiencing authorship-related issues, with lower-than-expected authorship positions being the most frequently cited concern. Although open-access publishing was widely regarded as important, article processing charges remained a key factor influencing publication decisions, while fewer than half of respondents had benefited from a waiver or discount.
Researchers also expressed strong interest in contributing to scholarly publishing through peer review and editorial board participation. However, opportunities remain limited, with only 37% reporting that they had received invitations to join editorial boards within the past five years.
The study further highlighted awareness gaps regarding Research4Life. While only 38% of respondents were familiar with the initiative, the majority of those aware of it reported that it provided value to their research activities.
The report recommends action across seven areas, including funding support, equitable access to AI tools, publishing practices, peer-review opportunities, conference participation, professional networking, and awareness-building initiatives. Recommendations include strengthening grant-writing support, expanding guidance on responsible AI use, increasing transparency around open-access publishing support, broadening reviewer and editor development programs, and improving access to international research networks.
The findings will contribute to the development of Research4Life's next strategic plan. The full report and databook are available at https://tinyurl.com/r4l2026-report
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