A global scale harnessing of the positive potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and developing an inclusive international governance regime will benefit from strategic financing structures (or targeted investment mechanisms) for model development, risk/safety research, and enforcement of common global regulatory standards. Inclusive capacity-building initiatives could, for example, involve supporting multi-stakeholder research on the technical and ethical interplays in the AI industry. This includes fortifying capacity in data collection, data management, data use, model creation, and cross-border information sharing. These initiatives may also support efforts to shrink the AI knowledge divide, minimize risks in the Global South countries, and help understand local peculiarities for building truly representative global governance norms. This chapter explores the necessity and opportunities for financing and building AI research capacity in the private and public sectors and civil society organizations, primarily focusing on the Global South. Participants from the global south can contribute original and local knowledge to emerging international governance norms-building through regional and international investment in AI research. By investing in AI research capacities and fostering cross-border partnerships, global south stakeholders can promote responsible domestic AI development and produce regulatory standards that meet local contexts.