The London School of Economics and Political Science and Tsinghua University have announced a new joint research fund, designed to strengthen and develop academic collaborations between the institutions in the field of sustainability.
The inaugural LSE-Tsinghua University Sustainability Research Fund is available to researchers from all schools and research centres at both universities. It will provide up to £40,000 per project (RMB 360,000), with particular emphasis on six themes: generating sustainable growth and energy transitions; creating sustainable finance and business; mobilising political, legal, and governance systems; protecting and enhancing nature and biodiversity; building sustainable societies, and promoting sustainability in public health and well-being.
To be eligible for the fund, proposals must involve at least one researcher from each institution. For researchers interested in connecting with colleagues at LSE and Tsinghua University, the institutions are co-hosting an optional online research collaboration sandpit in September 2025. Interested participants should submit an expression of interest.
The announcement represents the first major initiative following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and Environment and the Global School of Sustainability at LSE, and the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development and the Laboratory of Low Carbon Energy at Tsinghua in November 2024. This initiative also builds on collaborative working through the Global Alliance of Universities on Climate.
Welcoming the announcement, LSE President and Vice Chancellor Professor Larry Kramer said,
“We are delighted to announce this new research fund with our partners at Tsinghua. Delivering a sustainable future – for our environment, energy supply, businesses, health, and social institutions – is a huge challenge. To overcome it, we need the kind of unique insights that come from greater collaboration between academic institutions and researchers.”
Tsinghua University President, Professor Luming Li added,
“Tsinghua University and the London School of Economics and Political Science have long been partners in the quest for sustainable solutions. This joint research fund is a natural next step in our shared journey. Tsinghua is fully committed to this partnership and eager to join forces with LSE to drive meaningful progress in this critical area.”
LSE and Tsinghua have a strong recent history of partnership, delivering the Confucius Institute for Business London and the Tianyang Scholars programme. The latter sees students from Tsinghua’s Institute for Hospital Management enrol in an LSE master’s degree with support from the Shanghai Medical and Innovation Development Foundation.