From Laos to Europe: exploring new models to strengthen university research

Wednesday 14 October 2026

How can universities strengthen their research structures and transform research into an innovation engine for sustainable growth?

To meet this challenge, RESET involves Laotian and European universities with the aim of developing sustainable research management capabilities, tools, and models. Through study visits to Europe, universities involved in RESET have the opportunity to discuss how research, innovation, technology transfer, and researcher training are organized in different academic contexts, identifying practices and experiences that can be adapted to the needs of Lao universities.

The two experiences addressed complementary perspectives: on the one hand, the organization of research services and knowledge transfer; on the other, the relationship between research, innovation, sustainability, and environmental and social transformation processes. The visit to the University of Alicante allowed the Lao partners to get to know more closely the facilities and services that support research and the careers of researchers. The program included the International Doctoral School, services for research and innovation projects, the Science Park, and activities dedicated to the creation of research-based businesses.

The visit to the University of Freiburg allowed us to delve deeper into the university’s role as a center of research and innovation serving sustainable transformation. Participants met with stakeholders in the renewable energy sector, the relationship between universities and industry, technology transfer, and applied research, also exploring the Freiburg model as a benchmark for the green transition. The visit to Freiburg was accompanied by the first training for trainers, a course dedicated to capacity-building for Lao partners.

At CESIE, we contributed a session dedicated to how to strengthen institutional capacities in research and innovation. The training explored key aspects of participation in research funding programs, from preparing proposals in line with program priorities to defining objectives and expected impacts, to building international consortia.

These are particularly important skills for RESET, which aims to strengthen the capacity of Laotian universities to support research, develop new opportunities, and foster the professional growth of researchers.

The knowledge gained will be enhanced in the initiative’s upcoming activities, contributing to the development of autonomous and sustainable solutions for research management in partner universities and, more generally, to the sustainable growth of Laos.

Do you want to learn more about the research results and the opportunities identified by RESET?