In the Southern Africa region where agricultural productivity is far below potential, a key strategy to facilitate improved agricultural productivity is to increase investments in agricultural research and development (R&D) to levels required to sustain viable agricultural R&D programmes that address current and future priorities. Given that groups of countries within the region share similar agro-ecological zones and farming systems, there is potential for finding shared solutions to common problems. Although technology spillover is already occurring within the sub-region, significant potential remains for expanding spillovers.