Breaking Fences May Make for Good Neighbours in Collaborative Research Why the International Foundation for Science will introduce a Collaborative Research Approach Graham Haylor International Foundation for Science, 2012 Abstract This paper describes the vision behind a new approach to research support for early-career scientists by the International Foundation for Science. The paper discusses why the International Foundation for Science will promote collaborative research through the provision of support for small-scale research collaboration. It articulates the mutual benefits of intellectual and social influence derived from collaboration; the ever widening range of skills required by increasingly complex research demands and the potential benefit to scale, scope and efficacy of research outcomes that interdisciplinary collaboration can bring. The paper explores the phenomenon of research collaboration, highlighting nine evidence-based characteristics: informality, proximity, parity, productivity, acceptability, impact, influence, citation and salary. It identifies four putative differentiating criteria for 'collaborators': proposer(s) and/or fund raiser(s); frequent or substantial contributors; those responsible for the main elements of the research; and those responsible for key steps. The paper outlines seven types of benefit expected from the Collaborative Research Approach: sharing of knowledge, skills and techniques; tacit knowledge transfer; learning social and team management skills; sourcing creativity; intellectual companionship; greater scientific visibility; and pooling equipment. It also identifies five specific costs incurred by this approach: finding collaborative partners; financial costs; time costs; administration and reconciling different financial systems; management cultures and mechanisms. The paper summarises how the IFS Collaborative Research Approach aims to promote research collaboration amongst early-career scientists, through: an on-line collaborative environment for use by all prospective applicants, as well as successful teams of grantees; subject specific and technical mentoring; and, to reduce some of the costs to collaborative researchers, a specific budget for team coordination costs. Key Words: Research Collaboration, Early-career Scientists, Evidence-based Characteristics, Collaboration Criteria, Costs, Benefits, International Foundation for Science.