🌏 Global Students’ Idea Factory 2024/25
Program Report – A Journey of Global Collaboration, Creativity, and Social Impact
A nine-month journey where graduate students from around the world united to tackle real-world social challenges through science, technology, and imagination.
What Is Global Si-Fa?
Global Students’ Idea Factory (Global Si-Fa) is an international program that brings together graduate students from diverse countries and disciplines to co-create innovative ideas addressing global social issues.
Built on the success of the domestic Students’ Idea Factory (Si-Fa) in Japan, Global Si-Fa extends the model onto an international stage—where cultural diversity, interdisciplinary teamwork, and shared purpose generate powerful new ideas.
The program is organized by the Japanese Association for the Advancement of Science (JAAS), in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Students Innovation Nexus Advancement Platform Systems (SINAPS).
Global Si-Fa is designed to:
- Empower students with the skills to identify, frame, and propose solutions to social issues
- Foster global collaboration among peers across regions, cultures, and academic fields
- Build a sustainable international community of future innovators and leaders
2024/25 Program at a Glance
- Program duration: November 2024 – August 2025
- Participants: 32 graduate students
- 15 international students studying in Japan
- 9 Japanese students
- 8 international students joining from abroad
- Format: Hybrid (in-person workshop + online global workshops)
- Core components:
- Team formation
- Research & ideation
- Global collaboration
- Mentoring by experts
- Final Presentation at JICA Headquarters
Participants represented a wide variety of research fields—from engineering and agriculture to social sciences, health, sustainability, and AI—making Global Si-Fa a unique space for interdisciplinary co-creation.
Program Journey : A Three-Stage Learning Experience
Stage 1: In-Person Workshop (March 2025, JICA Tokyo)
The journey began with a two-day residential workshop hosted at JICA Tokyo.
For many students, this was their first time collaborating with peers from vastly different cultural and disciplinary backgrounds.
Day 1:
Students rotated through facilitated discussions in multiple breakout rooms, discovering shared interests, concerns, and motivations.
Day 2:
Six interdisciplinary teams formed organically based on the issues that resonated most deeply with the participants.
“It felt like finding teammates who care about the same future as you.” – Participant
In-Person Workshop : The Digest
Stage 2: Global Collaboration (March – July 2025)
After the in-person workshop, eight students from partner universities abroad joined, turning the teams into truly global groups.
Despite different time zones, languages, and academic cultures, the teams collaborated continuously through Slack and online meetings.
Two signature workshops shaped this stage:
Global Workshop 1 – Peer Mentoring (May 2025)
An innovative structure where teams mentored each other.
Rather than competing, they engaged in mutual learning—challenging, refining, and expanding one another’s ideas.
Global Workshop 2 – Expert Guidance (July 2025)
Distinguished academics and practitioners offered strategic feedback on:
- feasibility,
- positioning,
- societal relevance,
- and implementation pathways.
This workshop helped teams transform broad ideas into more concrete, actionable proposals.
We extend our sincere gratitude to mentors Rene Carraz and Sawako Shirahase for their invaluable guidance throughout this process.
Stage 3: Final Presentation (7 August 2025, JICA Headquarters)
The journey culminated in the Final Presentation at JICA Headquarters, where all teams presented their proposals before a distinguished Selection Committee chaired by Prof. Beverley Yamamoto (former Vice President of the University of Osaka).
The atmosphere was a unique blend of academic seriousness and creative energy.
Award Results:
- JAAS Prize: Climate Justice Team
- JICA Prize: Building Future-ready Farms Team
Each participant received a Certificate of Completion signed by JICA Vice President Hiroo Tanaka.
Final Presentation : The Digest
Six Teams Tackling Six Global Challenges
The 2024/25 cohort developed six project proposals, each addressing a different dimension of global social issues:
1. Climate Justice
Equitable strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations.
2. Building Future-ready Farms
Solutions for sustainable, resilient agriculture under shifting environmental and socio-economic conditions.
3. Greenprint
Urban sustainability frameworks that make cities more livable, green, and community-centered.
4. Flexible Working Arrangement
Rethinking how work, learning, and training should evolve in a rapidly changing world.
5. AI & Mental Health
Exploring the potential and risks of using AI for mental health support and early intervention.
6. Caring for the Carers
Improving workplace mental health and promoting equality for caregivers.
Each proposal demonstrated creativity, interdisciplinary insight, and a strong desire to generate real-world impact.
What Students Gained
Collaboration & Leadership Skills
Participants learned how to co-create ideas across cultures and disciplines—an experience rarely accessible within traditional academic programs.
“I learned how to navigate different working styles and grow as a teammate.”
Communication & Storytelling
Students practiced crafting compelling narratives that combined research, logic, and vision.
“I learned how to present a proposal as a story, not just data.”
Intercultural Understanding
Working with peers from different countries deepened their appreciation of diverse viewpoints and values.
Professional & Personal Growth
Many broadened their career perspectives, gained confidence, and discovered new academic interests.
Participant Satisfaction
A post-program survey showed highly positive feedback:
- 55%: “Exceeded expectations”
- 36%: “Met expectations”
- 0%: Dissatisfied
Participants especially valued:
- networking with international peers,
- interdisciplinary teamwork,
- exposure to real-world perspectives from experts,
- and the supportive environment created by the organizers.
Participant
| Team | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Climate justice | Lei Li | Sophia University |
| 1. Climate justice | Md Nazmul Haque | Hiroshima University |
| 1. Climate justice | Kai Otsubo | The University of Tokyo |
| 2. Building Future-ready Farms | Julie Ann Gunayon Delda | Keio University |
| 2. Building Future-ready Farms | Subarna Sharma | Iwate University |
| 2. Building Future-ready Farms | Ryunosuke Yamada | Kanazawa University |
| 2. Building Future-ready Farms | Tomoya Akiyama | The University of Tokyo |
| 2. Building Future-ready Farms | Kai Novotny | Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm (Germany) |
| 3. Greenprint | Maina Ngare Maina | The University of Osaka |
| 3. Greenprint | Shubham Dey | The University of Osaka |
| 3. Greenprint | Miyo Hataoka | Ochanomizu University |
| 3. Greenprint | Ryotaro Watanabe | Hitotsubashi University |
| 3. Greenprint | DANIELOU QUENTIN | University of Western Brittany (France) |
| 3. Greenprint | Shreyasi Alapati | University of Hyderabad (India) |
| 4. Flexible Working Arrangement | Jirasukprasert Jirarit | Iwate University |
| 4. Flexible Working Arrangement | Ricci Krizzane Benemerito Taroma | International University of Japan |
| 4. Flexible Working Arrangement | Ritzi Buena Zaldarriaga | Rikkyo University |
| 4. Flexible Working Arrangement | Tatsuya Yoshizawa | Yokohama City University |
| 4. Flexible Working Arrangement | Chia Chi Kuan | Universiti Malaya (Malaysia) |
| 5. AI & Mental health | Fahima Tabassum | The University of Osaka |
| 5. AI & Mental health | Ta Phuong Linh | Kyushu Institute of Technology |
| 5. AI & Mental health | Mitsuki Shibagaki | Hokkaido University |
| 5. AI & Mental health | Nanami Yagishita | Kanazawa University |
| 5. AI & Mental health | Emmanuelle CHARGHINOFF | Catholic University of Paris (France) |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Balinskaia Aleksandra | Kanazawa University |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Batsaikhan Oyundari | Hiroshima University |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Wong Wai Cheng | The University of Osaka |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Rumi Mikami | Tokai University |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Ludivine Helluin | EHESS: École des hautes études en sciences sociales (France) |
| 6. Caring for the Carers | Luo Yan | The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Hong Kong) |
Partners and Supporters
Global Si-Fa was made possible through essential partnerships.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
A core partner providing:
- venues at JICA Tokyo and JICA Headquarters,
- expert participation,
- strategic alignment with global development goals.
JICA representatives described the program as “highly meaningful in fostering cross-border collaboration to solve social challenges.”
Connection with Students’ Idea Factory Alumni
- Domestic Si-Fa alumni joined as Executive Committee members and session contributors.
- A “Global Si-Fa Students Meet Si-Fa Students” dialogue session connected cohorts across programs and years.
Experts from Academia, Publishing, Industry, and Development
Including guest experts from Springer Nature, Tokyo Electron, S&T Diplomatic Circle, 3M and others—broadening the participants’ views of how science and technology link to society.
Why Join Global Si-Fa?
🌟 For Students
- Work with peers from around the world
- Solve real social problems using interdisciplinary approaches
- Receive guidance from international experts
- Gain skills that academia alone cannot teach—leadership, collaboration, storytelling
- Become part of a global community that continues long after the program ends
🌟 For Companies & Organizations
- Meet highly motivated, globally minded graduate students
- Explore new ideas aligned with sustainability, technology, and social impact
- Support the next generation of innovators
- Strengthen partnerships with universities and international organizations
- Contribute directly to global problem-solving
Looking Ahead
Global Si-Fa 2024/25 has shown that when students from different cultures and disciplines come together with openness and curiosity, they can design powerful ideas for a better world.
As the program moves into its next cycle, it will continue to:
- expand its international network,
- deepen cross-sector collaboration,
- and nurture young leaders capable of addressing complex global challenges.
Global Si-Fa is more than a program.
It is a growing community of young innovators co-creating a brighter future—together.
Selection Committee
Selection Committee
| Position | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Mao MINOURA | Rikkyo University, Vice President |
| Member | Beverley Anne YAMAMOTO | Osaka University, Executive Vice President, International Affairs (Education) |
| Member | Hiromitsu URAKAMI | Springer Nature Group, Academic Engagement Director for Japan |
| Member | Katsumi EMURA | Fukushima Institute for Research, Education and Innovation (F-REI), Vice President (R&D Management) |
| Member | Yuji OGINO | Tokyo Electron Limited, Global Head of Sustainability |
Final Presentation Selection Committee
| Position | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Chair | Beverley Anne YAMAMOTO | Osaka University, Executive Vice President, International Affairs (Education) |
| Member | Atsushi Udagawa | 3M Japan Innovation Limited, Director, Japan Leader, Corporate R&D Operations |
| Member | Hiromitsu URAKAMI | Springer Nature Group, Academic Engagement Director for Japan |
| Member | Monte CASSIM | Akita International University, President |
| Member | Yuji OGINO | Tokyo Electron Limited, Global Head of Sustainability |
As of August 7, 2025
Executive Committee
| Position | Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Co-Chair | Yuko Harayama | Tohoku University, Yamaguchi University, National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, JAAS |
| Co-Chair | Cassio Amorim | JAAS Board member, CJS Inc. |
| Vice Chair | Tomonori Fukasawa | Co-Chair of JAAS, Emerging Technologies Corporation |
| Vice Chair | Wataru Ota | JAAS Fellow, Yokohama City University |
| Member | Shuji Kitahara | Co-Chair of JAAS, Tokyo Women’s Medical University |
| Member | Seiko Miyahara | JAAS |
| Member | Toshitaka Higashino | SINAPS President |
※JAAS : The Japanese Association for the Advancement of Science, SINAPS : Students Innovation Nexus Advancement Platform Systems
As of August 7, 2025
Global Si-Fa FRIENDS
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Last Update : November 29, 2025