The 2024 SARIMA Excellence Awards celebrated outstanding achievements in research and innovation management across various categories. Below is a detailed overview of the award winners and their notable contributions:

1. Early Career Excellence Awards
– Research Management: Neo Joel of Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) was celebrated for initiating Good Financial Grant Practices (GFGP) at BIUST and her work on research strategy and costing. Her achievements include the implementation of inception meetings for projects, managing PRE-RIMS integration, and presenting at prestigious conferences like INORMS 2023.

– Innovation Management: Niall Naidoo from the University of Cape Town, as New Venture Support Manager, played a key role in technology transfer by developing a tailored framework for humanities and leading a British Council-funded project. He established the SHAPE commercialisation toolkit and created new networks of researchers for his office.

2. Professional Excellence Awards
– Research Management: This was a joint award to Eleni Flack-Davison and Basutli Ramontshonyana. Eleni Flack-Davison from the University of the Witwatersrand was honoured for her ethics and compliance initiatives, including forming a consortium of universities for animal research ethics. She has contributed to high-profile publications and helped establish the SARIMA Mentorship Programme. Basutli Ramontshonyana of the University of Botswana was recognised for her role in ethics management. Her work included developing systems to streamline ethics clearance and organising conferences such as the UNESCO Bioethics and Good Clinical Practices Conference. Additionally, she provided extensive training for Research Ethics Committees (RECs).

– Innovation Management: This was a joint award to Doris Peters of Stellenbosch University and William Goriwondo of the National University of Science & Technology, Zimbabwe. Peters created the “Instant Startup Toolkit” for entrepreneurs, while Goriwondo established an Innovation and Business Development unit at his university, contributing to a year-over-year increase in IP.

3. Distinguished Contribution Awards
– Research Management: Therina Theron from Stellenbosch University has been instrumental in establishing strategic programs like SUNRISE, supporting early career academics, and chairing the INORMS 2023 congress. She also serves as Co-chair of the ACU’s Supporting Research Community Steering Committee.

– Innovation Management: This was a joint award to Ayanda Noma of the University of South Africa who made remarkable contributions by growing the institution’s IP portfolio and founding initiatives like the Unisa Start-up Academy and the Unisa Innovation Festival. His efforts also include fostering partnerships and innovation challenges within South Africa. Rosemary Wolson, the other winner for this category, an independent consultant, was recognised for increasing the pipeline of managed innovations, establishing an Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Forum, and authoring practical guides on IP and technology transfer for TTOs.

6. Organisational Growth Awards
– Research Management: Botswana International University of Science & Technology’s Research and Innovation Office excelled with strategic initiatives like interdisciplinary proposal writing and partnerships, achieving a high ranking on the Times Higher Education (THE) list.

– Innovation Management: Joint awardees were Malawi University of Business & Applied Sciences (MUBAS) and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). MUBAS was the first official TTO in Malawi, developing impactful technologies and conducting extensive training. SMU joined the Tshwane Innovation Ecosystem and secured space for IP discussions within school board meetings.

Each of these awardees exemplifies the SARIMA mission of advancing research and innovation within the Southern African region, driving economic and academic development with a lasting impact.

Written by Armand Barnard