Singapore Management University (SMU) and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) have taken a decisive step to deepen their longstanding relationship, unveiling a new institutional partnership backed by joint strategic research funding. Centred on the intersecting themes of cities, work and ageing, the collaboration aims to harness the strengths of both universities to address some of the most pressing social and economic challenges facing rapidly urbanising and ageing societies. The agreement will support cross-border research teams, policy-relevant scholarship and academic exchanges, positioning Singapore and London as twin hubs in a growing global network focused on the future of urban life and the changing nature of work.
Deepening academic collaboration between SMU and LSE to address global urban challenges
Building on years of scholarly exchange, the two universities are now committing to more structured, long-horizon cooperation that harnesses their complementary strengths in urban research and social science. Jointly designed projects will examine how cities can remain liveable, inclusive and resilient amid demographic shifts, rapid technological change and evolving patterns of work. Faculty and graduate students will be embedded in cross-campus teams to explore topics such as:
- Urban resilience and climate adaptation in dense global cities
- Changing labour markets and the rise of platform-based work
- Longevity and ageing societies in Asia and Europe
- Data-driven urban governance and ethical use of AI
| Focus Area | SMU Strength | LSE Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Cities | Asian urban innovation | Global city networks |
| Work | Digital economy in ASEAN | Labour markets and regulation |
| Ageing | Social policy in ageing Asia | Pensions and welfare systems |
New institutional mechanisms will support this agenda, including co-funded seed grants, co-supervised PhD projects and short-term research residencies rotated between Singapore and London. These platforms are designed to generate comparative insights from both regions, translate findings into policy dialog and industry engagement, and nurture the next generation of scholars who can navigate the complexities of urban conversion on a global stage.
Strategic research on cities work and ageing to inform evidence based public policy
Combining SMU’s deep understanding of Asian urban realities with LSE’s global leadership in social science, the joint initiative will back interdisciplinary projects that address how people live, work and age in rapidly evolving cities. Researchers from both institutions will analyze how demographic shifts, digitalisation and climate adaptation intersect with labour markets and social protection, generating insights that are promptly relevant to ministries, city planners and employers. Priority themes include:
- Urban resilience and the spatial distribution of jobs, services and care
- Quality of work across life stages, including mid‑career transitions
- Healthy and productive longevity in dense, high-cost city environments
- Inclusive innovation and the role of technology in supporting older workers
To ensure findings translate into action, the partnership will embed policymakers and practitioners in the research cycle through policy labs, closed‑door briefings and co-authored reports. Outputs are designed to be directly usable in national and municipal decision-making, such as calibrating retirement policies or rethinking neighbourhood design.Key strands of the collaboration include:
| Focus Area | Policy Submission |
| Cities and spatial inequality | Guidance on equitable housing, transport and service access |
| Work across the life course | Evidence for lifelong learning and mid‑career support schemes |
| Ageing and social protection | Reforms to pensions, healthcare and community care models |
By aligning rigorous empirical research with real-world policy timelines, the collaboration aims to shape more inclusive, age-ready and economically vibrant cities in Asia and beyond.
Empowering interdisciplinary teams and emerging scholars through joint funding and shared resources
At the heart of this collaboration is a commitment to build agile research teams that cut across traditional disciplinary boundaries. Drawing on SMU’s strengths in urban analytics, business and social sciences, and LSE’s global leadership in public policy and social research, the partnership channels joint funding into cross-cutting projects that examine cities, work and ageing as interconnected systems. Dedicated seed grants encourage faculty, postdoctoral researchers and graduate students to co-design studies that blend data science with sociology, economics with law, and management with public policy, while shared access to research infrastructure ensures ideas can be tested and scaled quickly across both campuses.
- Co-funded research clusters linking urban innovation, labour markets and demographic change
- Shared data platforms and secure repositories for comparative city and labour research
- Joint mentorship tracks pairing senior scholars with early-career researchers and PhD candidates
- Cross-campus workshops and methods labs to strengthen quantitative and qualitative skills
| Support Stream | Primary Beneficiaries | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Interdisciplinary Seed Grants | Faculty & Postdocs | New comparative projects |
| Joint Doctoral Initiatives | PhD Candidates | Co-supervised theses |
| Mobility & Visiting Schemes | Emerging Scholars | Embedded research stays |
These mechanisms give emerging scholars a tangible platform to shape policy-relevant agendas early in their careers, from studying inclusive workplaces in rapidly ageing societies to mapping how digital technologies are transforming urban livelihoods. By pooling financial resources, datasets and mentoring capacity, SMU and LSE lower the barriers to ambitious, multi-country enquiry and foster a generation of researchers who can move fluently between theory, practice and policymaking. The result is a research ecosystem where ideas, talent and evidence circulate seamlessly between Singapore, London and partner cities worldwide.
Recommendations for leveraging SMU LSE insights to guide sustainable city planning labour markets and ageing societies
Drawing on the combined empirical depth of SMU and LSE, policymakers and urban planners can move beyond siloed approaches by integrating labour, housing, mobility and health data into a single planning framework.This means using joint research findings to shape adaptive zoning, transport networks and digital infrastructure that support both high-productivity firms and inclusive neighbourhoods for older residents. Cities can also pilot “living labs” that test how flexible workspaces, age-pleasant public design and green corridors affect employment patterns, social cohesion and environmental resilience, then scale what works through cross-agency collaboration and regional partnerships.
To translate these insights into concrete action, city leaders, employers and social service providers should prioritise:
- Workforce transitions – aligning re-skilling programmes with sectoral shifts identified by SMU-LSE labour market research.
- Age-responsive design – embedding accessibility, healthcare proximity and intergenerational spaces in new urban developments.
- Data-driven governance – using longitudinal evidence on ageing and employment to refine social protection and pension reforms.
- Regional comparators – benchmarking policies against other global cities in Asia and Europe to identify scalable models.
| Focus Area | Key Insight | Policy Lever |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Cities | Compact, mixed-use districts reduce emissions and isolation. | Integrated land-use and transport planning. |
| Labour Markets | Mid-career shifts are rising in high-skill sectors. | Targeted mid-life training and portable skills credits. |
| Ageing Societies | Older workers value flexibility over full retirement. | Phased retirement and flexible work regulations. |
Future Outlook
As the global economy grapples with demographic shifts, rapid urbanisation and evolving labour markets, the expanded SMU-LSE partnership positions both institutions at the forefront of evidence-based policy research. By aligning academic strengths and pooling resources across continents, the collaboration is set to generate insights with direct relevance to governments, businesses and communities navigating the complex realities of cities, work and ageing.
In deepening their institutional ties and committing fresh funding to joint strategic research, SMU and LSE are signalling a long-term vision: to build a sustained, cross-border platform that not only advances scholarship, but also shapes practical solutions for more resilient, inclusive and future-ready societies.
