Global Research Technology Lab (GRTL)

GRTL · Projects · Team

Founded in February 2026 by Prof. Marc Ratkovic and Dr. Eirliani Abdul Rahman, the Global Research Technology Lab, or in short GRTL, serves as a collaborative umbrella for projects dedicated to protecting and supporting vulnerable populations like children. 

GRTL brings together researchers, practitioners, and policy actors to advance responsible technology development grounded in justice, participation, and real-world impact. The Lab focuses on interdisciplinary research at the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI), data science, governance, and ethics, with particular attention to how emerging technologies shape power, inequality, and public institutions. By drawing on approaches from social data science, science and technology studies (STS), and public policy, our team develops practical frameworks that align technological innovation with democratic values and human rights. 

Our Approach

A central pillar of the Lab’s work is participatory and community-centered AI research, particularly from a Majority World lens encompassing Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Rather than treating communities as passive recipients of technology, GRTL advances the principle of “participation as justice,” emphasizing that people most affected by technological systems should play a meaningful role in shaping their design, governance, and evaluation. This shift in decision-making power ensures that AI systems and datasets reflect local contexts and lived realities. 

By bridging the gap between local experts, civil society, and technologists, GRTL builds technology ecosystems that are safe, equitable, and accountable. Our mission is to move beyond “one-size-fits-all” solutions. This approach reflects a broader movement within participatory AI research that seeks to prioritize input from those most likely to be affected by AI systems and to embed their perspectives into the design and governance of technology.