SARIMA Conference 2026

Nicolette Biggar represented Inventa at the Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) Conference, held in Johannesburg from 8 to 11 September under the theme “Resilient Futures: Reimagining Research and Innovation Management for Impact and Inclusion.”

Bringing together universities, research and innovation institutions, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), funders and other stakeholders from across the continent, the conference provided a platform to exchange perspectives on the future of research management, technology transfer and innovation in Africa.

This year’s conference also marked the first year of operation of the Pan-African Research and Innovation Management Association (PAN-RIMA), an alliance bringing together Africa’s five regional associations: SARIMA, WARIMA, EARIMA, NARIMA and CARIMA. The programme opened with a keynote introducing the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034) and highlighting the role of research and innovation management in supporting Africa’s long-term development.

The conference provided an opportunity to engage with university TTOs and gain a deeper understanding of the evolving challenges institutions face in managing their research and innovation pipelines.

Sessions explored lessons from Norway’s academic spin-off ecosystem, university innovation hubs as models for strategic partnerships, regional innovation systems, research commercialisation pathways, integrated innovation management, spin-out formation from an IP attorney’s perspective, impact pathways for non-STEM research, and funding mechanisms for inclusive innovation.

A recurring theme throughout the discussions was the evolving role of TTOs, moving beyond the administrative management of IP towards actively transforming research into commercial and societal impact. The sessions offered valuable perspectives on how universities can strategically identify, protect, manage and unlock the value of intellectual property and other intangible assets, while building stronger pathways from research to market and society.

Here are some highlights of the event:

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