Meeting at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur): Advancing Cooperation with the Malaysian Social Innovation Agency

A working meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur between Magdalena Gaete and Haliyana Khalid, along with representatives of the Malaysian Social Innovation Agency. It was hosted at the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation Malaysia (MOSTI). The discussions focused on the future development of social innovation in Malaysia and on opportunities for structured cooperation within the international Consortium of Mirror (Satellite) Laboratories on Social Entrepreneurship.

Magdalena Gaete, Head of the Project-Based Learning Laboratory for Reputation Management in Education at HSE University Saint Petersburg and Director of the Satellite Laboratory on Social Entrepreneurship, together with Haliyana Khalid, Deputy Dean for Research and Innovation at the Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, presented the Consortium’s potential as an international academic platform integrating research, education, and applied solutions in the field of social innovation.

During the discussion, the parties agreed on the need to move toward evidence-based models of social innovation grounded in cross-sector collaboration among universities, government institutions, local communities, and socially oriented businesses. Particular emphasis was placed on universities' role as hubs of expertise, experimentation, and talent development for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Key areas for potential cooperation identified during the meeting included:

• The launch of joint pilot projects in social innovation addressing Malaysia’s priority territorial and social challenges, involving students and international research teams.

• The development of methodologies for measuring and assessing social impact, adapted to regional contexts and aligned with international standards.

• The joint creation of educational and certification programs in social entrepreneurship and public innovation for civil servants, community leaders, and social entrepreneurs.

• The establishment of a shared case and data repository within the Consortium to enable comparative analysis of practices across Asia, Latin America, and BRICS countries.

• The organization of international seminars, living labs, and conferences aimed at knowledge transfer and the development of evidence-based policy recommendations.

Magdalena Gaete emphasized that the Mirror Laboratories Consortium is developing a sustainable infrastructure to scale successful solutions and integrate research findings into practice. Haliyana Khalid, in turn, highlighted the strong potential of Malaysia’s social innovation ecosystem and the importance of its integration into global research and educational networks.

As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to begin preparing a joint roadmap defining thematic priorities, modes of collaboration, and potential short- and medium-term projects. The meeting at MOSTI marked an essential step in strengthening international cooperation and advancing social innovation as a tool for sustainable socio-economic development.