Partnerships are vital to providing safe and healthy workplaces. Nowhere is this principle more realized than in the National Occupational Research Agenda, or NORA. Nearly ten years ago participants from diverse interests and perspectives joined NIOSH to establish a common research vision for the nation. This collaboration sparked a decade of leadership in occupational safety and health research. Occupational injuries and illnesses affect us all. They result in losses of life, impairments in health, and diminished capacity for men and women in their prime. The burden these injuries and illnesses impose on families, communities, businesses, and the U.S. economy is enormous. Innovative research is critical for designing new tools and methods to reduce these burdens, and for anticipating new concerns in a changing workplace. No single agency or institution can face the challenges of mounting such research alone. NORA offers a blueprint for developing effective partnerships. Through NORA diverse parties collaborated to produce innovative occupational safety and health research, and then worked to translate that research into effective workplace practices. By leveraging the talents and resources of many partners, NORA has stimulated important advancements in workplace safety and health.