LSE and Singapore Management University announce joint research awards
LSE and Singapore Management University (SMU) are delighted to announce awards for three new collaborative projects, each led by faculty from both institutions.
The announcement of these awards follows the January 2026 launch of the LSE-SMU Research Seed Fund, which sought proposals to advance world class research collaborations in selected areas of study. It also comes after the LSE-SMU Global Forum: The Role of Universities in a Fragmented World, which took place in Singapore on 8 September, at which the projects were announced in person. The fund seeks to promote critical research, foster important international collaborations, and promote excellence and impact at both LSE and SMU.
In response to the launch, we received nine exceptional proposals across three thematic areas of shared interest: Urban Sustainability, AI and the Future of Work, and Longevity and Health Ageing. One project was selected for each theme, each receiving matched funding from both institutions.
Urban Sustainability
- Data Centre Urbanism in Comparative Perspective: Infrastructural Pathways, Cloud Capital, and Sustainability Transition in Johor, Singapore, and London
Professor Hyun Bang Shin, Geography and Environment, LSE
Dr Andrew Stokols, College of Integrative Studies, SMU
Professor Orlando Woods, College of Integrative Studies, SMU
AI and the Future of Work
- Outsourcing the Leader Self: Generative AI, Agency, and Identity in Leadership Work
Dr Niranjan Janardhanan, Management, LSE
Dr Burak Oç, Lee Kong Chian, School of Management, SMU
Caleb Phillips, Doctoral Candidate, Management, LSE
Longevity and Healthy Ageing
- Valuing Ageing in Place: A Discrete Choice Experiment on Housing and Care Preferences Among Older Singaporeans
Professor Joan Costa-Font, Health Policy, LSE
Dr Seonghoon Kim, School of Economics, SMU
Professor Susana Mourato, LSE Vice President and Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), commented:
“I am delighted to see the first projects emerging from our new partnership with SMU. The best seed funding does more than support an individual study: it gives researchers the opportunity to test new ideas together, combine complementary expertise and build collaborations that can develop well beyond the initial award.
"These three projects tackle questions that will matter enormously to societies in both Asia and Europe: how we build more sustainable cities, how AI is reshaping work, and how we support longer and healthier lives. They are an excellent illustration of what LSE and SMU can achieve by bringing different perspectives and strengths to shared global challenges.”
Professor Alan Chan, Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple Chair, Professor of Inter-Religious Studies and Harmony, and Provost at Singapore Management University (SMU), added:
“The challenges facing our societies today, from urban sustainability and healthy ageing to the future of work in an AI-enabled world, are complex and interconnected. They require the convergence of diverse perspectives, expertise, and experiences.
"These projects exemplify the spirit of partnership between SMU and LSE, bringing together outstanding researchers to generate new knowledge, strengthen international collaboration, and create meaningful impact for society globally.”