This report summarizes the key issues and messages from the 2017 Annual Forum on “Effective public–private partnerships in Research and Innovation” held from 22 – 23 November, 2017 in Livingstone, Zambia. The Forum brought together about 120 people from 25 countries, including Heads of Research Councils (HoRCs), SGC Coordinators, Researchers, Policymakers, Private Sector actors and Civil Society representatives.