The Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) and the China Philanthropy Research Institute (CPRI) at Beijing Normal University are launching a three-year research initiative to better understand philanthropic innovations and identify opportunities for social service cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).The research is supported by the Beijing Normal University Education Foundation (BNUEF) and will promote resource sharing, policy innovation and social governance capacity improvement in the region.
Funded by a RMB 9.1 million donation from IoP, this research will ultimately inform the integration of social resources to enhance the effectiveness of services across the GBA, including Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province. The study will include analysis of the current philanthropic landscape in the GBA, while combining joint research, multi-stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue to explore effective mechanisms for cooperation in key areas such as elderly care, child development, health, emergency response and sustainable development.
Professor Wang Zhenyao, Founding Dean of CPRI, will lead the research team, supported by a multidisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners.
The research team will conduct an in-depth analysis of the GBA — one of China’s most economically dynamic regions — examining its diverse legal systems, funding channels and regulatory frameworks. Drawing on lessons from different philanthropic models, the initiative seeks to lay a solid foundation for high-quality, coordinated development of philanthropy and policy innovation in the region.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to building knowledge and capacity for philanthropy in one of Asia’s most vibrant regions,” said Lester Huang, Chairman of the Institute of Philanthropy. “As the GBA continues to grow in strategic importance, it is essential to understand how collaborative philanthropy can contribute to shared social progress. This research will help unlock new models of cooperation and strengthen the region’s leading role in shaping the future of philanthropy.”
Professor Wang Zhenyao, Founding Dean of the China Philanthropy Research Institute (CPRI) and Professor Xu Xiaoxin, the current Dean, will jointly lead the research team, supported by a multidisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners. “The Greater Bay Area is a laboratory for collaborative actions,” said Professor Wang. “Through this cooperation, we hope to refine the effective mechanisms, partnerships and policy innovations that can help philanthropy play a more effective role in regional development.”
The collaboration builds on IoP’s broader strategy to commission action-oriented research with leading Chinese Mainland institutions to advance thought leadership in philanthropy.
HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan was officially launched today (10 November), bringing immersive digital cultural experiences to 160 primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland from 2025 to 2028.
HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan enables students to explore the Palace Museum’s artifacts through an immersive and interactive digital experience, introducing them to the richness of traditional Chinese culture and history.
Organised by the Palace Museum in partnership with the Academy of Chinese Studies, HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan is exclusively sponsored by the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP). It is one of the key initiatives under the five-year collaboration between IoP and the Palace Museum to promote Chinese culture and develop arts tech talent in the Mainland and Hong Kong. It follows the success of FLASH! The Palace Museum — A Pop-Up Digital Experience, which opened in January 2025.
HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Ann Kung and other guests tour the HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan.
Today’s launch ceremony was officiated by HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law; IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Ann Kung; Deputy Director of the Palace Museum Wang Yueong; and Chairman of the Academy of Chinese Studies, Professor Lee Chack Fan.
Officiating guests at the launch ceremony for HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan included HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law (2nd right), IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Ann Kung (2nd left), Deputy Director of the Palace Museum Wang Yueong (1st right), and Chairman of the Academy of Chinese Studies, Professor Lee Chack Fan (1st left).
Speaking at the ceremony, Rosanna Law offered her thanks to IoP for supporting the initiative. Ann Kung said the School Caravan’s immersive and interactive digital experience will enable the younger generation to explore the diversity of the Palace Museum and appreciate the wisdom of traditional Chinese culture. Wang Yueong noted that the initiative reflects the Palace Museum’s commitment to innovation and education.
IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Ann Kung delivers a speech at the launch ceremony of HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan.
HKSAR Government Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism Rosanna Law, IoP Deputy Chairman and Trustee of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust Ann Kung and other guests tour the HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan.
Each year, the School Caravan will visit 30 schools in Hong Kong and 10 on the Chinese Mainland, staying approximately one week at each location. Through high-definition videos, interactive touchscreens, virtual reality (VR) devices and mobile apps, students will explore the Palace Museum’s digital resources — including the acclaimed “Digital Treasures Cabinet” project — designed to foster appreciation of the artistry and design of the museum’s artifacts as well as the richness of traditional Chinese culture and history.
HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan enables students to explore the Palace Museum’s artifacts through an immersive and interactive digital experience, introducing them to the richness of traditional Chinese culture and history.
The School Caravan features two custom-designed, transformable interactive educational experience zones:
The Digital Exhibit Interactive Experience Vehicle offers immersive digital displays within a redesigned container, showcasing traditional Chinese architecture. Students can also explore court attire, digital artifacts, court dining traditions through a rich multi-sensory environment.
The Public Education Experience is shaped to resemble traditional architectural features, offering students the opportunity to explore the construction and painting process of the Palace Museum’s four Corner Towers through VR devices. It also introduces the Palace Museum’s architecture, cultural relics and court life by providing interactive educational content tailored to primary and secondary students.
HELLO! The Palace Museum — School Caravan enables students to explore the Palace Museum’s artifacts through an immersive and interactive digital experience, introducing them to the richness of traditional Chinese culture and history.
