The South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (NRF-SAIAB) is a national facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF). The NRF-SAIAB contributes to two National Operation Phakisa Labs through which South Africa has identified the potential to develop the Biodiversity Economy and the Blue Economy. With a significant amount of funding from the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation, SAIAB has developed several high-level platforms capable of undertaking research in various environments; these have positioned the Institute as an innovative leader in aquatic biodiversity research. All of SAIAB’s activities – research, student supervision and platform provision – support the Higher Education sector in the education, training and development of the aquatic managers and researchers of the future.