The Collaborative Innovation Center of South China Sea Studies at Nanjing University is one of the first 14 government-approved 2011 Collaborative Innovation Centers. The center was established in July 2012 by Nanjing University and is supported by three government agencies: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hainan Province, and the State Oceanic Administration. It was jointly established with other institutions such as National Institute for South China Sea Studies, Naval Command College, Renmin University of China, Sichuan University, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
The center is guided by national strategic needs with the goal of protecting rights and interests in the South China Sea. Its main focus is on multidisciplinary collaborative innovation through a path called collaboration between liberal arts and sciences - cooperation between schools and institutes, while reforming institutional mechanisms to guarantee it. It promotes comprehensive research on South China Sea issues to support national decision-making on South China Sea strategy.
The center focuses on three main directions: Fundamental Research, Dynamic Monitoring, and Strategic Decision Making. It has built nine research platforms including “History, Geography and Culture of the South China Sea”, “South China Sea Resources, Environment and Maritime Sovereign Rights , South China Sea Legal Studies, Security and Stability of Freedom of Navigation in the South China Sea, Political, Economic and Social Situation in the South China Sea, Public Opinion and Communication Management in the South China Sea, Dynamic Remote Sensing, Derivation of Scenarios, Policy Support for Strategic Decision-Making on the South China Sea and “Study of International Relations in the South China Sea”. In addition, the Center has launched five major projects including building evidence chain and database to protect sovereignty over islands in SCS, constructing discourse over SCS issues, early warning system & emergency response measures, supporting policy decisions regarding SCS strategies, cultivating world class talents related to SCS issues. It strives to build a new type of think tank with four functions and goals: academic innovation, world class think tank, talent cultivation base, international exchange and dialogue platform with Chinese characteristics.
On October 10, 2012, the launching ceremony for the Center was held at Nanjing University. Seven collaborative institutions including Nanjing University, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Oceanic Administration, and Hainan Province were present to provide support.
