NEWGlobal Students’ Idea Factory 2024/25 Held

Global Students’ Idea Factory (Global Si-Fa), which is supported by Tokyo Electron (TEL), is an international program organized by the Japan Association for the Advancement of Science (JAAS) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Students Innovation Nexus Advancement Platform Systems (SINAPS). Bringing together graduate students from diverse countries and fields, it provides an opportunity to co-create innovative ideas addressing global social issues.

Global Si-Fa 2024/25 was held from November 2024 to August 2025 in a hybrid format both online and in-person. There was a total of 32 participants, which consisted of 15 international students studying in Japan, 9 Japanese students, and 8 international students joining from abroad. The students had a wide variety of research fields, ranging from engineering, agriculture, and social sciences to health, sustainability and artificial intelligence (AI).

This international program offers a three-stage learning experience.

(Stage 1) In-person workshop (March 2025, JICA Tokyo)
Through group discussions involving members from diverse backgrounds, teams were formed for each of the following six themes:
1. Climate Justice
2. Building future-ready Farms
3. Greenprint (a future plan for environmental conservation)
4. Flexible Working Arrangement
5. AI & Mental health
6. Caring for the Carers

(Stage 2) Global collaboration (March to July, 2025)
Eight new students from partner universities abroad joined the program. Utilizing communication tools like Slack and online meetings, they collaborated across time zones, languages, and academic cultures. Two workshops formed the core of this stage. During the “Peer Mentoring” workshop in May 2025, participants deepened discussions by providing mutual guidance and advice. In the “Expert Guidance” workshop in July 2025, they refined their ideas into more actionable proposals by receiving expert advice on feasibility, positioning, societal relevance, and implementation pathways.

(Stage 3) Final presentation (August 7, 2025, JICA Headquarters)
All teams presented their achievements to date before the selection committee. The judging took place under an atmosphere of both academic rigor and creative energy. Following rigorous evaluation by the selection committee, which included TEL employees, the Climate Justice Team's proposal, “Equitable strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with an emphasis on vulnerable populations,” received the JAAS Prize. The Building Future-ready Farms Team's proposal, “Solutions for sustainable, resilient agriculture under shifting environmental and socio-economic conditions,” received the JICA Prize. Furthermore, all participants were awarded certificates of completion signed by the JICA Vice President.

Students who participated in the program developed the ability to collaborate with diverse individuals, and obtained leadership skills, clear communication abilities, and cross-cultural understanding. As a result, their career options broadened, their confidence deepened, and their interest in new learning opportunities increased. TEL will continue to support gatherings among graduate students both domestically and internationally, contributing to the development of next-generation leaders with global perspectives.