November 2023
SARIMA hosted a special, one-day event, themed ‘Connect, Collaborate, Celebrate’, on Thursday, 19 October 2023, at the OR Tambo Premier Hotel in Johannesburg.
Various workshops were hosted in the morning followed by the SARIMA Biennial General Meeting where the President presented his report covering the term 2021-2023 followed by the Vice Presidents of the Research Management, Innovation and Technology Transfer, and Africa Engagement portfolios. SARIMA’s audited annual financial statements were presented showcasing the organisation’s commitment to sound and responsible financial management. The occasion also marked the change-over of the SARIMA committee and the introduction of the new SARIMA President, Emilia Afonso Nhalevilo.
This exciting day ended with the Excellence Awards Luncheon where the 2023 DSI-SARIMA Excellence Awards winners were announced and celebrated for their respective achievements and contribution to excellence in Research and Innovation Management in the region. A special thanks to Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl, the DSI Deputy Director General for Technology Innovation who was the keynote speaker, and together with new SARIMA President, Prof. Emilia Afonso Nhalevilo, presented the 2023 DSI-SARIMA Excellence Awards to the award winners. In her keynote presentation Dr Ramoutar-Prieschl highlighted the DSI and SARIMA’s strong longstanding relationship and the DSI’s commitment to ongoing support and willingness to partner with SARIMA on initiatives that are aligned with and contribute toward achieving the national STI objectives as articulated in the SA STI Decadal Plan.
Ms Lien Verbauwhede, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Project Lead for the inaugural WIPO pilot Project entitled “Reinforcing the Technology Innovation Support Centres (TISCs)/Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Southern Africa through On-the-job Training at South African Technology Transfer Offices” subsequently presented WIPO Certificates of Recognition to the Heads of the six South African TTOs, to acknowledge and appreciation their outstanding support and commitment to the On-the-Job Training Program in Technology Transfer (TT).
Lien Verbauwhede and Emilia Afonso Nhalevilo handing a Certificate of Recognition to Dr Janine Chantson, NWU
The well-received initiative was run in partnership with SARIMA and supported by the Japanese Patent Office (JPO). The 6 TTOs from Host Institutions, North-West University, Stellenbosch University, University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg, University of South Africa, and the University of the Western Cape, each hosted two TT practitioners from SADC member countries and facilitated an eight weeks on-the-job technology transfer training program.
WORKSHOPS held included:
Workshop 1: Incentivising Innovation & Technology Transfer
Workshop 2: ReSHAPEing the Southern African Research & Innovation (R&I) Landscape: Articulating the value of Social Sciences, Humanities & the Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE) to the Southern African regional R&I ecosystem
Workshop 3: Launch of the Research Outputs, Outcomes & Impact community of practice (CoP-ROOI)
Workshop 4: Community of Practice in Research Ethics and Integrity – it is a celebration!
We would like to express our gratitude to the South African Department of Science and Innovation for its continued support of the DSI/SARIMA Regional Excellence Awards in R&I Management and its invaluable partnership with SARIMA over the years to strengthen the R&I community, as well as, the National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), which generously provided sponsorship support for the 3C event.
SARIMA Past-President, Andrew Bailey handing over the reigns to the new SARIMA President, Emilia Afonso Nhalevilo during the BGM.
