ABSTRACT
The phenomenon of research aid is studied in several fields such as economics, development studies, political science, management, science and technology studies, environmental science, health sciences and agricultural sciences. The studies cover different aspects of research aid such as theoretical underpinnings, support modalities, specific actors or geographical regions. Research aid has contributed to increasing the number of trained scholars and improved research infrastructure, capacity building, networks and policy development. Aid-financed collaboration is an essential source of funding for many low-income country universities, and the issue of inequality is the basis for a majority of the tensions. An example of the neo-colonial effects of research aid is presented by Holland, who interviewed researchers in Malawi on some of the dilemmas they face. Swedish research aid recognizes that collaborations initiated and dominated by high-income country institutions do not have as positive effects on capacity building in “the South” as the provision of core funding to recipient universities does.
