There are several synonyms for the phrase "lays foundation of." One of the synonyms is "establishes," which means to create, found or set up something. Another synonym is "installs," which refers to the process of setting something up permanently or securely. "Initiates" is also another synonym for laying the foundation of something, meaning to begin or introduce something. Additionally, "plants the seeds of" refers to the action of creating something that will grow and develop over time. These synonyms can be used interchangeably with "lays foundation of" depending on the context in which they are used.