News

Symposium with the Core Team, Joint Laboratory (Évora)

Group Photo

Technical Survey – Heritage Lab, NOVA Lisbon

Exchange Talks at the School of Architecture, Arts and Design, UMinho

Group Photo with the Chinese Ambassador to Portugal

Exhibition Opening Ceremony

Touring the Exhibition with Chinese Ambassador to Portugal

Survey of Sintra Historic Heritage Area

Investigation of Macao Science and Culture Centre

Visit to the Medeiros and Almeida House Museum

Survey of the Palace of Braganza Dukes

Meeting and Exchange with the Foreign Dean of the Confucius Institute at the University of Minho

From July 6 to 10, 2026, invited by Professor António Candeias, Rector of the University of Évora and Portuguese Director of the Joint Laboratory, Professor Wu Yao, Director of the Joint Laboratory, visited Portugal for field research and academic exchanges. As a core co-founding institution of the Joint Laboratory, the University of Évora arranged core researchers from its HERCULES Laboratory for Heritage Conservation and CHAIA Centre for Art History and Art Studies to accompany the whole visit. The trip aimed to optimize the regular operation mechanism of the Joint Laboratory, consolidate integrated cooperation results of the three parties, and expand the Sino-Portuguese international cooperation network for cultural heritage conservation with support from top Portuguese universities and research institutions.

Improve Institutional Systems and Build Multi-level Sino-Portuguese Research Cooperation Network

This exchange focused on advancing the integrated operation system of the three parties. At the College of the Holy Spirit, University of Évora, Chinese and Portuguese research administrators held a closed-door seminar. They discussed implementation rules of the integrated cooperation agreement and drafting of charters for management, academic and advisory committees, clarified the positioning and organizational structure of the Joint Laboratory, and set up regular communication and research output management mechanisms to underpin standardized long-term operation.

Following the layout of taking the University of Évora as the core hub to connect research institutes nationwide in Portugal, the Joint Laboratory expanded regular academic partnerships with local Portuguese universities. At the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, the team held talks with the Head of the Department of Heritage Conservation and Restoration João Pedro Veiga on cross-university joint research. They toured the i3N Nanotechnology Institute and Vicarte Art Ceramics Research Platform to explore joint research on nano new materials and digital modeling for heritage restoration. At the School of Architecture, Arts and Design, University of Minho, the team met Dean Paulo Cruz and Deputy Director João Cabeleira of LAB2PT Laboratory. The two sides shared experience in national research platform development and reached consensus on joint research projects and exchange of young teachers and students.

Host Special Achievement Exhibition to Boost Sino-Portuguese Diplomatic and Academic Links

Cultural exhibitions and diplomatic exchanges form a key part of the Joint Laboratory’s international development. On the afternoon of July 8, the Excellent Case Exhibition of Youth and Traditional Construction Crafts co-hosted by the Joint Laboratory and the Suzhou Center of the UNESCO World Heritage Institute for Asia-Pacific opened at the University of Évora. Wu Yao presided over the opening ceremony. Yang Yirui, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal, and Évora Municipal Councilor Cabeleira attended and delivered speeches respectively.

The exhibition displayed outstanding practical cases created by young scholars and industry practitioners from home and abroad, showcasing phased research achievements of the Joint Laboratory in new materials for heritage conservation, historic building restoration and digital application of cultural heritage. CCTV’s Portuguese Service of the Euler Center conducted on-site interviews to produce special programs introducing Sino-Portuguese heritage cooperation for Portuguese-speaking audiences worldwide.

The exhibition opened regular communication channels with the Chinese Embassy in Portugal and local government of Évora, demonstrating fruitful integrated scientific and cultural exchanges under national-level platforms.

Conduct In-depth Field Research on Heritage Sites to Collect Empirical Data for Revitalization Studies

During the visit, the team carried out systematic field research on various world heritage sites, historic buildings and cultural venues to collect first-hand cases for the Joint Laboratory’s research projects. In the Sintra World Heritage Zone, the team discussed historic building restoration with project coordinator Carlos Marques. At the Medeiros e Almeida House Museum, in-depth discussions with Director Maria Mayer covered Chinese cultural relic collections and joint research with the HERCULES Laboratory. At the Macao Science and Culture Centre, talks with President Maria João Coutinho explored feasible paths for Chinese heritage conservation in Portugal and cross-border digital collaboration on cultural relics.

Focusing on historic district revitalization and urban renewal, the team investigated public spaces of Guimarães World Heritage, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza and the São Marinha historic building renovation project to learn mature European experience in protective renewal of architectural heritage. They visited the Confucius Institute at the University of Minho’s Couros Campus and talked with foreign director Antonio Lázaro to plan public education activities on heritage conservation. Special research was also conducted in Porto on the revitalization of old towns to accumulate empirical data and research ideas for the Joint Laboratory’s projects on adaptive conservation of historic buildings and urban heritage renewal.

This special exchange in Portugal is a key initiative of the Joint Laboratory to advance trilateral integrated collaboration and expand research partnerships across Europe. Next, the Joint Laboratory will align with standards and development plans for national sci-tech innovation platforms, deliver all cooperation intentions reached during this visit, and steadily advance joint research, joint training of teachers and students, and cross-border academic exchanges. It will strive to build an international demonstration platform for cultural heritage conservation under the Belt and Road Initiative featuring shared construction and achievements, contributing Sino-Portuguese collaborative innovation to global architectural heritage preservation.