Surveillance of animal diseases at a national, regional or global level should take into account multiple and very diverse odds. These may include complex political, social, economic and natural environments, a diversity of situations regarding animal health and variable levels of technical expertise, major political or financial constraints and global changes (climatic, environmental or anthropologic). The drivers of these changes, which could be severe in some specific environments such as small territories, should be understood. Opportunities exist to overcome these challenges (mathematical modeling, IT based information, metagenomics and new diagnostics etc), however we strongly believe that a complex issue can only be solved by an integrated, multidisciplinary and intersectorial approach, taking into account political and economic priorities such as protecting animal and public health, ensuring food security and facilitating competitiveness in international trade. This paper reviews the advantages and conditions for an efficient collaboration between science and policy by practically addressing the questions raised by policy makers to researchers and vice versa with a view of mutual understanding and common objective of an improved surveillance and control of animal diseases. Key messages of this collaboration include how surveillance policies, both national and regional are shaped by the political, economic and social environment and how science can help surveillance through efficient prevention, set up of research and diagnostic platforms, integrated multidisciplinary approach and improved surveillance systems. Practical examples of the benefit of this tight interaction are presented as priority settings and co-building of research questions, cost effective scientifically based surveillance and demonstration of cost-benefit of surveillance. The benefits for science include gap analysis of research priorities, access to the field and to samples, possibility of