Research Collaboration is one of the key activities of the League. The ASPIRE Grant and satellite laboratories represent one unique model of this collaboration. Offered by Tokyo Tech for research collaborations involving Tokyo Tech faculty and co-researchers from the ASPIRE League member universities, the grant has supported 26 research projects between 2011 and 2019, and encouraged participants to open their labs to one another as satellite labs.

Subjects of ASPIRE League Research Grant Projects 2011-2019

In 2019, the ASPIRE League launched the ASPIRE League Partnership Seed Fund to foster deeper research collaboration within the League. The Seed Fund has been providing researchers from member universities with an opportunity to build on their research strengths to create greater impact and to develop valuable long-term relationship.

Up to the present, the participating universities are:

• • Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
• • Nanyang Technological University (NTU)
• • Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech)
• • The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Tsinghua University has not been able to participate in this scheme as a university up to the present. However, Tsinghua faculty members has been able to join the project using his/her own funds on the invitation of faculty member from participating universities.

For each adapted project by the Seed Fund, each participating university has awarded funding directly to its own faculty members.

ASPIRE League Partnership Seed Fund Awarded Projects