The Pharmaceutical International Network (PIN) was established in 2004 to facilitate increased communication and collaboration between policy makers and researchers of community pharmacy practice. The core aim of the network is to help these stakeholder groups adjust to the demands and challenges of a globally transforming profession. To do this, PIN has outlined four key objectives, these are:

• To formalise and strengthen key stakeholder connections in community pharmacy practice globally (including professional bodies, policy making organisations and researchers).
• To facilitate fast and efficient knowledge mobilisation and management in policy and research in community pharmacy practice.
• To inform network members about changes to the healthcare systems in participating countries by reviewing major reforms and their impact on community pharmacy.
• To identify and progress a number of collaborative international research priorities.

In order to achieve these goals, PIN operates via a website that employs a sophisticated collaborative software system. The PIN website facilitates rapid knowledge exchange, increased understanding, and new forms of partnership across countries and between network members. The platform for PIN has been custom designed to support cooperative human interaction, knowledge mobilisation and data management. It is hoped that the network will empower members through increased and accessible information, and stimulate collaborative research projects that highlight the value of community pharmacy broadly, in both social and economic terms.