SARIMA is an organisation that brings together Research and Innovation Management practitioners, to strengthen these disciplines and institutional capabilities across the SADC region. It operates at an individual, institutional, national and international level, as well as across the continuum from research – where new knowledge that can drive innovation is created- through to innovation – which takes new knowledge and translates it into spin offs, products and services. It has anchored itself as a key role player within the SADC regional system of research and innovation (R&I), providing thought leadership and advocacy, a platform for the promotion and facilitation of best practices, and championing efforts to build and strengthen capacity & capabilities, within institutions and for individual practitioners. To ensure that capabilities are sustained through attracting and retaining the specialist skill set required to support R&I, SARIMA plays a pivotal role in professional development, and international structures that award professional status in these disciplines. The required capabilities and skill sets are critical to supporting world leading research endeavours, and realisation of sustainable innovations from such research, so as to address societal needs.