Imperial-Science Tokyo Global Fellows Programme

Imperial College London is delighted to partner with the Institute of Science Tokyo for the fifth bilateral Global Fellows Programme (GFP), taking place from 10th–14th November 2025. The in-person programme will take place in Tokyo, Japan, hosted by Science Tokyo.

In the current scientific environment international and interdisciplinary collaborations and networking are fundamental to developing successful projects. In a competitive research environment funding bodies increasingly look for interdisciplinary, collaborative research with partners from around the world. The modern researcher requires both excellence in research and strong professional collaborative competencies.  

This exciting programme is designed to facilitate participants to actively focus on the development of these professional skills and competencies. Approximately 30 doctoral researchers from Science Tokyo and Imperial will work together to develop professional, research, and collaborative skills as well as the intercultural awareness that is required to establish and continue successful collaborations.

During this five-day Global Fellows Programme, participants will work in interdisciplinary and international groups, assisted by a coach from one of the partner institutions. During the programme, participants will enhance:

• Their ability to work collaboratively on research ideas
• Their ability to network and communicate effectively with impact in interdisciplinary and intercultural teams
• Their intercultural and international competency and awareness
• Their creativity to develop collaborative research ideas
• Their appreciation of research in international institutions

Participants will also have the opportunity to apply those skills and competencies to develop creative innovations addressing global challenges under the Imperial-Science Tokyo Global Fellows Programme theme: ‘Sustainability innovation for food consumption and production’.

The Global Fellows Programme will bring together participants from a range of disciplines to explore convergence science approaches to tackling sustainability challenges.

Participants will apply their skills and competencies to develop creative innovations addressing global challenges under the programme theme “Sustainability innovation for food consumption and production”.  The programme theme will align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable consumption and production. This includes efforts to address the challenge of sustainable food production and resilient agricultural and fishing practices, to halve per capita food waste by 2030, and promote understanding of sustainable lifestyles.  

Innovative approaches are needed to address food waste at retail and consumer levels as well as along production and supply chains. Raising awareness of how to live sustainably is crucial to addressing the crisis of climate change and to improving quality of life for all. Achieving this ambition requires commitment by individuals, industry and societies to promote understanding of sustainable lifestyles, effectively manage and use natural resources, to generate sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and to reduce and prevent waste in the food system. 

A background on the theme is not required, doctoral candidates from any discipline are invited to apply to this 5-day professional development course, the Imperial-Science Tokyo Global Fellows Programme: Sustainability innovation for food consumption and production.

This is a chance to challenge yourself outside of your normal working environment, meet people from other disciplines and cultures, and have fun!   

Student Experiences from last year’s Imperial-Science Tokyo GFP: 

‘For me the GFP was an outstanding, and probably one of a kind opportunity, that helped me improving my personal, communicative, and collaborative skills.’

‘A fantastic and intensely beautiful course that will open your mind to so many new things’

‘It was an amazing experience I am inspired to work on other collaborative projects’

‘Being a Global Fellow is a wonderful experience, not only on the specific topic, but the development as a researcher as a whole.’

You can read student experiences of previous Global Fellows Programmes on this webpage.  

Any additional queries not answered in webpages, please contact Laura Bulmer & Beth Yates