This document discusses strategies for strengthening research uptake from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa. It provides two examples of how the CSIR developed research uptake strategies. The first example describes developing an uptake strategy for the Upper Olifants River Study to link findings to stakeholders and plan further research. The second example discusses the National Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas Project, which identified priority freshwater areas and targeted products to government users. Lessons learned include planning early for uptake, sufficient funding, managing stakeholder expectations, targeting all government levels, designing timely products that fit policies, and targeting influential individuals.