RE-Designing Research International Collaboration through Satellite Laboratory Model (SLM): A Collaborative Venture between International-Oriented Universities
As part of International Partnership Week at HSE University – St. Petersburg.
Saint Petersburg, 20 May 2025 – Today, HSE University in Saint Petersburg hosted an inspiring and forward-looking panel session titled “RE-Designing Research International Collaboration through Satellite Laboratory Model (SLM): A Collaborative Venture between International-Oriented Universities.” Held as part of International Partners Week, the event gathered institutional leaders, researchers, and experts from six countries to explore a bold vision for global academic cooperation.
A diverse group of international academic leaders gathered today at HSE University in Saint Petersburg to explore the transformative potential of the Satellite Laboratory Model (SLM) in rethinking how universities collaborate globally while remaining deeply engaged with local needs. Moderated by Dr. Magdalena A. Gaete-Sepúlveda, the session unfolded as a vivid exchange of insights, commitments, and proposals among scholars from Russia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia.
Moderated by Dr. Magdalena A. Gaete-Sepúlveda, Head of the Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education and the Satellite Laboratory for Social Entrepreneurship at HSE, the session spotlighted a pioneering model of international collaboration: the Satellite Laboratory Model (SLM). The SLM positions each participating lab as a hub of local innovation and a gateway to global knowledge, designed to address complex issues such as sustainability, social entrepreneurship, and community-based learning.
The panel highlighted how universities can serve as local-global hybrids—institutions that address societal challenges through collaborative knowledge production and community-engaged innovation.
The initiative, originally rooted in a trilateral partnership between HSE University (Russia), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), and Universidad Panamericana (Mexico), has now welcomed new partners: UNESP and UNICAMP from Brazil, as well as Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) from Indonesia.
Together, the panelists examined how the SLM empowers universities, particularly in BRICS and rapidly developing countries, to move beyond traditional North-South academic hierarchies. By creating agile, decentralized, and interdisciplinary research nodes, universities are not only enhancing the co-production of knowledge but also reinforcing their commitment to local impact and global solidarity.
"One of the most powerful aspects of this model," emphasized Dr. Gaete, "is its ability to bring together scholars from diverse academic cultures, age groups, and knowledge systems—something that traditional structures often struggle to achieve."
Professor Mohd Ariffin Abu Hassan, Director, UTM International, Malaysia, emphasized the strategic value of SLM in advancing UTM’s internationalization goals while staying grounded in real-world issues. “We must move beyond symbolic partnerships,” he noted. “The SLM allows us to work shoulder to shoulder with partners in Latin America and Eastern Europe, tackling shared challenges like digital inclusion, environmental degradation, and youth employment.”
He highlighted UTM’s experience in integrating students and young researchers into the labs, allowing them to co-design solutions for their communities—a principle now being extended across the SATLAB network.
Vice Dean, AHIBS Business School, UTM, Malaysia, Prof. Khalid reflected on the journey of launching the first SLM pilot between UTM and HSE. “This project was built on trust, courage, and a shared belief that knowledge must serve society,” she said. She presented examples of how business education at UTM is being reoriented through the lab, linking entrepreneurship, sustainability, and service learning. She praised the “experimental space” the SLM created, which enabled unconventional collaborations between disciplines, particularly between business, social sciences, and engineering.
Dr. Juan Fernando Córdoba Marentes, Vice Rector for Research at Universidad de La Sabana, Colombia, drew attention to the integration of Third Mission within Latin American universities. “The Satellite Lab approach fits perfectly with our institutional vision: research must serve society. It must be ethically rooted, collaborative, and measurable in its impact.” He expressed interest in using the SLM to support Colombia’s post-conflict development and peace-building efforts, primarily through social entrepreneurship initiatives that empower rural communities.
Dr. Ellya Zulaikha, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Design and Digital Business at ITS, Indonesia, offered a unique perspective on design-led innovation and digital culture. She explained how ITS plans to embed the SLM into its interdisciplinary labs, connecting AI, sustainable development, and indigenous knowledge. “SLM gives us a scaffold to reimagine how we teach and research. For us in Indonesia, it’s a platform to validate and globalize knowledge that comes from our communities, not just from Western paradigms.”
Dr. Pedro Costa, Vice-Rector for International Relations at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, brought a macro-level perspective, focusing on the geopolitical relevance of creating knowledge networks across the Global South. “This is not just academic cooperation; it’s a way to shift power dynamics in global research. The Satellite Labs provide a blueprint for decentralized, pluriversal knowledge systems.” He advocated for embedding the SLM into institutional policy frameworks, including research funding allocation, evaluation systems, and international Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
Dr. Leandro Pereira Morais, a professor at UNESP, Brazil, spoke passionately about the solidarity economy and community-based development. He shared successful examples from Brazil where social enterprises supported by public universities have helped reduce poverty and promote ecological stewardship. “SLM is not just about collaboration—it’s about convergence,” he said. “It allows us to unite research and extension, north and south, triangle and innovation.” He proposed a regional hub of SLMs in Brazil, focusing on solidarity and a circular economy, as well as grassroots entrepreneurship.