The Centre for Information Technology Research (CITRUS) launched in 2002 had the goal of encouraging collaborative research that is industry and community linked, at regional and national levels within the NACCQ sector. The research programme into Software Development Impact Statements being conducted by the Software Engineering Practice Improvement Alliance, (SoDIS SEPIA) represents one model towards achieving this goal. Initiated in 2001, this programme of research has developed increasing momentum from small beginnings, and is beginning to attract funding and a growing body of research partners committed to its goals. Bootstrapping a research programme from scratch is nonetheless a difficult undertaking. This paper outlines the goals of the programme; the strategies applied to build a collaborative network of researchers in educational and commercial organizations in New Zealand, Australia and the United States; reviews the successes and failures in the process so far; and makes some recommendations for developing successful research partnerships.