However, ODA for STI capacities directed to the LDCs, land-locked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as for developing countries in Africa, has remained at the about same levels for the past decade. The North-South divide in research and innovation, while still large for many countries, is narrowing overall, as more countries incorporate STI in their national development strategies.®5 Increased R&D spending and institutional strengthening over the past 20 years have encouraged more cross-border collaborations. In 2014, 86 per cent of scientific publication in low-income countries had international co-authors (from 80 per cent in 2008), with 38 per cent in lower-middle income countries (from 29 per cent in 2008).