Collaboration is increasingly a requirement for major research projects, particularly those projects which are concerned with step-change advances or where the scope of the research activity is quite broad. In both these situations, it is increasingly the case that the skills required are unlikely to reside in a single research group.

The internationalisation of the industry is another factor driving collaboration. Many of the most significant of the projects conducted within SMI have support from international companies. In such activities, there is an understandable desire on the part of international project sponsors to want to see the involvement of high quality research participants drawn from an international pool.

Truly effective collaboration can deliver large rewards to all parties. However, making collaborations work is never simple and highly professional project management is absolutely essential for success.

For SMI, effective collaborations and high quality project management are two areas where substantial investments are being made and real progress is being achieved.