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Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

Dr Qi Song

Dr Qi Song is the King’s Global Sustainability Fellow in Climate Risk in Aviation, supported by Heathrow Airport.

Qi joined CISL in August 2025 as a Research Associate, where he works on developing transformative, actionable, policy-oriented insights to support a sustainable future for aviation. Passionate about fostering interdisciplinary dialogues, Qi’s work explores the transformative potential of sustainable innovation in shaping societies that are not only more prosperous, but also ecologically sound and socially inclusive.

Qi holds a PhD in Science and Technology Policy Studies (fully funded by ERC) from University of Sussex Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU). Prior to his PhD, he completed a master’s degree at SPRU as a Geoffrey Oldham Scholar, following undergraduate studies at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing. In addition, he was a visiting scholar at Tsinghua University in Beijing (2022) and at Fraunhofer ISI in Karlsruhe (2023).

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Biography

Career 

  • 08/2025-Present, Research Associate, University of Cambridge (UK)
  • 07/2024-Present, Research Fellow, University of Sussex (UK)
  • 06/2020-06/2024, Research Assistant, University of Sussex (UK)
  • 06/2023-12/2023, Visiting Scholar, Fraunhofer ISI (Germany)
  • 12/2021-11/2022, Visiting Scholar, Tsinghua University (China)

Qualifications

  • Ph.D. in Science and Technology Policy Studies, University of Sussex (UK)
  • M.Sc. in Science and Technology Policy, University of Sussex (UK)
  • B.Mgmt. in Public Administration, Central University of Finance and Economics (China)

Other affiliations

Alongside his main role at CISL, Qi is currently affiliated with SPRU as a Research Fellow in Governing Energy-Mobility Transitions within the EMPOCI project.

Funding and awards

  • 2023 – Eu-SPRI Circulation Award, funded by the Eu-SPRI Forum
  • 2020 – EMPOCI Full PhD Studentship, funded by the ERC Starting Grant (EU Horizon 2020)
  • 2019 – Geoffrey Oldham Memorial Scholarship, funded by SPRU (University of Sussex)
  • 2019 – Beijing Distinguished Undergraduate Thesis, awarded by Beijing Municipal Education Commission
  • 2019 – CUFE-Yongjin Undergraduate Academic Award, funded by CUFE and Yongjin Group
  • 2018 – National Scholarship, funded by the Ministry of Education of China

Research

Qi’s research focuses on global sustainable mobility transitions – ranging from aviation to automobiles – with an emphasis on innovation systems and policy design. Using a policy mix approach, his work aims to accelerate system transitions toward a net-zero future by supporting the phase-in of low-carbon alternatives and the phase-out of unsustainable technologies.

Publications

Key publications: 

Peer reviewed journals and book chapters

  • Rogge, K. S., & Song, Q. (2025). Achilles’ heels of acceleration? Assessing critical capacity for transformative policy mixes. In Transformative Mission-Oriented Innovation Policies (pp. 284-302). Edward Elgar Publishing. doi.org/10.4337/9781803929521.00022
  • Song, Q., Rogge, K. S., & Ely, A. (2023). Mapping the governing entities and their interactions in designing policy mixes for sustainability transitions: The case of electric vehicles in China. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 46, 100691. doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2023.100691
  • Rogge, K. S., & Song, Q. (2023). Policy mixes for addressing environmental challenges: Conceptual foundations, empirical operationalisation, and policy implications. In Routledge Handbook of Environmental Policy (pp. 327-346). Routledge. doi.org/10.4324/9781003043843-28
  • Zhang, J., Zhang, W., Song, Q., Li, X., Ye, X., Liu, Y., & Xue, Y. (2020). Can energy saving policies drive firm innovation behaviors?-Evidence from China. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 154, 119953. doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2020.119953

Other publications and media

  • Rogge, K. S., Goedeking, N., Hoppmann, J., Lütkehaus, H., Rinscheid, A., Rosenbloom, D., Scherrer, A., & Song, Q. (2025). How phase-out policies strengthen Europe’s automotive industry. EMPOCI Policy Briefing 1/2025, University of Sussex.
Dr Qi Song
King’s Global Sustainability Fellow in Climate Risk in Aviation

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