Unmasking partnerships for agricultural innovation: the realities of a research–private sector partnership in Lombok, Indonesia

Research institute–private sector partnerships are promoted as a mechanism to increase the scale and sustainability of research impact, especially where government extension services are constrained. Such partnerships are often framed as simple transactional or contractual arrangements. This paper traces the evolution of a multi-lateral partnership between a public university, agri-input supplier, finance provider and local government in North and East Lombok. The partnership aimed to increase household incomes by introducing new practices for maize and pulse production, but in order to do so, had to enable farmers to access affordable credit and inputs in a timely manner. Analysis of the partnership over three years highlights its dynamic nature and the importance of a consistent champion who aligns the competing institutional incentives and aspirations of actors. It also highlights how partners bear different types and degrees of risk across different stages of the partnership. The findings affirm the potential for research–private sector partnerships to contribute to agricultural innovation but highlight a more complex and messy process than is acknowledged in the literature. A more realistic understanding of partnership and innovation processes needs to inform how schemes and innovation support mechanisms are designed if they are to deliver on the promise of scale and sustainability.