The LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership is pleased to offer the following Collaborative Studentship, commencing in September 2026:
Project Title: Sustainable and Digital Global Investment in a (de)globalising world economy
Collaborative Partner: London & Partners
LSE Department: Department of Geography and Environment
Supervisory team: Professor Riccardo Crescenzi (R.Crescenzi@lse.ac.uk)
Project Description: This collaborative PhD studentship is developed in partnership with London & Partners, London’s official agency for foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion. The research will explore the economic geography of (de)globalisation and sustainability through the lens of Green and Digital FDI and Global Value Chains (GVCs). The project builds on LSE’s established research excellence in this domain, which has delivered substantial scholarly and policy impact—evidenced by citations in the UK Government’s Review of FDI Strategies by Lord Harrington and the European Commission’s flagship strategy on the Future of Cohesion Policy.
London & Partners brings unmatched expertise to this collaboration. As London’s growth agency, it has supported over 2,000 overseas business expansions and contributed £3.4 billion to the city’s economy. Its governance by key city stakeholders—including the Mayor of London, the London Chamber of Commerce, and leading industry bodies—ensures a unique blend of public purpose and commercial insight. This collaborative scholarship represents an outstanding opportunity to contribute to understanding global economic transformations and the policy responses they require.
The research will examine how firms integrate local and non-local suppliers, how geopolitical shifts (such as new tariff regimes) reshape investment decisions, and how digital technologies and green criteria are embedded within GVC governance and FDI strategies. Combining big data and artificial intelligence (AI) with advanced quantitative methods, the project aims to develop new taxonomies of green and digital FDI and map their emerging geographies at national, regional, and city levels. By tracking the location decisions of leading firms in key sectors, the research will shed light on how GVC-driven FDI contributes to regional economic resilience or vulnerability.
A further objective is to assess the role and effectiveness of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and their tools in attracting and retaining green and digital FDI. In partnership with London & Partners, the study will analyse how IPAs engage global lead firms and signal local readiness for green or digital projects. The research will evaluate which promotion instruments yield the greatest returns in terms of job creation, technology transfer, and sustainable development. By comparing IPA strategies across jurisdictions, the project will identify best practices for aligning investment promotion efforts with broader digital and green transition goals. Ultimately, this focus will clarify how coordinated IPA actions can reshape regional value-chain configurations and accelerate socially and environmentally beneficial FDI flows.
Length of studentship:The studentship will commence in September 2026, with a duration of 3.5 years.
Value of studentship: LSE ESRC Doctoral Training Partnership Collaborative Studentships cover full fees and an annual stipend. The stipend per year for 2025/26 entry was £22,780
Candidate Requirements: Candidates must have already completed a MSc in a related subject (e.g. Local Economic Development, Economics, Public Policy or related field) and have experience of a) scholarly and policy literature on the economics and geography of trade, Foreign Direct Investment and Global Value Chains; b) advanced quantitative methods and large datasets gained through study or working experience.
How to apply: Suitably qualified candidates should make an application via the MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography programme.
If you are applying only for the Collaborative Studentship, please clearly cite the project title and submit a research proposal that directly responds to the project brief, outlining how you would approach the project through your research. This will constitute an application for admission specifically for the Collaborative Studentship.
If you would also like to be considered for general admission to this programme, please include a separate research proposal which meets the criteria set out on the programme page.
Deadline for applications: 14 January 2026
Applicants who are also applying to be considered for admission to the MPhil/PhD in Economic Geography must apply by 14 January 2026 to be considered for a general ESRC-funded studentship.
Enquiries regarding the application process should directed to Pam Rolfe, Deputy Head of Scholarships and Financial Support (p.rolfe@lse.ac.uk)