Receive feedback on work products and use it to improve them.
Discussion/feedback on research direction.
Moral support and cheering in general.
Or someone who lights a fire under your bum, if that’s what you need.
Access to computing resources if you have a good relationship with a university.
Mentoring.
Quick answers to technical questions if you have access to an expert.
Probably more.
This only lists the receiving side, whereas every good relationship is based on give-and-take. Some people get almost all their results by leveraging their network. Not in a parasitic way – they provide a lot of value by connecting others.
Good point about the misaligned skillset.
Relationships to results can take many forms.
Joint works and collaborations, as you say.
Receive feedback on work products and use it to improve them.
Discussion/feedback on research direction.
Moral support and cheering in general.
Or someone who lights a fire under your bum, if that’s what you need.
Access to computing resources if you have a good relationship with a university.
Mentoring.
Quick answers to technical questions if you have access to an expert.
Probably more.
This only lists the receiving side, whereas every good relationship is based on give-and-take. Some people get almost all their results by leveraging their network. Not in a parasitic way – they provide a lot of value by connecting others.