Social science theory is derived from practical social experience, and the source of the existing social science system is Western history and practice. Bending Western theories to fit fails to provide rational explanations of China's own history and practice, but leads instead to conceptual confusion. The lack of specific theoretical tools for interpreting Chinese society presents difficulties for constructing a knowledge system based on China's practical experience, yet China urgently needs such a social science knowledge system. An adjustment of perspective is required if we are to find Chinese solutions to Chinese problems and Chinese propositions. Focusing on Chinese history and practice, the Centre for Political Economy is engaged in the creation of a Chinese social science knowledge system based on actual Chinese historical experience and practice. Director ​Zheng Yongnian Professor, CUHK-Shenzhen President, IIA Ph.D., Princeton University Research Field: International Relations, China’s Foreign Policy, Sino-US Relations, China’s Domestic Transformation and its External Relations

The Centre for International Relations and Foreign Policy is an institution specializing in China's foreign relations and foreign policy. By studying the structural evolution of international politics, the Centre makes recommendations for the Chinese government to consider in formulating development trajectories and long-term strategies.  In addition, the Centre provides recommendations for practical policy formulation and international political risk management both to the Chinese government and to multinational enterprises, based on a systematic, standardized and graphic decision-making framework. The Centre comprises a group of professional, interdisciplinary scholars and researchers, equipped by their wealth of academic and practical experience to delve deeply into the complexities of China's foreign relations and foreign policy. Having established extensive cooperative relations with other Chinese and international academic institutions as well as government departments, the Centre strives to continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of research through exchanges and cooperation. In addition, the Centre holds a number of academic conferences and seminars which provide a shared communication platform for experts, scholars and government officials. Director Dr. Li Jie | Assistant Research Fellow Ph.D., King's College London Research Field: International Politics and Regional Security, Chinese Foreign Policy, Civil-Military Relations and Contemporary Military Strategy

As its core mission, combining historical and contemporary perspectives, the Centre for Regulation and Global Governance aims to contribute cutting-edge research to the academic community, provide compliance guidance to industry, and offer strategic advice to the government.  In its work around the twin themes of improving domestic rule of law and developing international-related rule of law, the Centre brings to bear both interdisciplinary research and big data analytics.  From its base in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Centre focuses on three key fields: domestic rule of law, international-related rule of law, and the application of AI to analysis of national legislative processes. Making full use of the special location and policy advantages of the Greater Bay Area, we deploy corporate compliance reporting, publication of research outcomes, actionable policy recommendations, high-level talent training and academic policy exchanges, to promote communication and cooperation between government and enterprises, coordination of domestic and international-related rule of law, institutional opening-up through improvement of rules and standards and other means, and maintenance of diversity, stability and order in the international economic structure and in economic and trade relations. Director Dr. You Chuanman | Associate Research Fellow Ph.D., University of Sussex  Research Fields: M&A and Corporate Law, FinTech and Financial Regulation, Data and Platform Governance

As a specialized, future-oriented research department, the Centre for Economic Policy conducts research on current and future economic policy issues through the use of state-of-the-art research methods and data analysis tools. The Centre’s research team comprises experts with professional backgrounds and research experience in fields including economics, data analysis and policy studies. Through its research work in economic data analysis and evaluation of economic policies and trends, and its research-based forecasts of future economic trends and their impacts, the Centre provides actionable intellectual support for rational decision-making by governments and enterprises. The Centre’s researchers provide comprehensive, expert and objective economic policy analysis and recommendations to government, enterprises and society through publication of economic policy reports, research papers and media articles; convening seminars and forums; and participating in economic policy discussions. Through cooperation with government agencies and enterprises, the Centre promotes the adaptation and practical application of its research outcomes. The Centre's research outcomes are also published as academic journal papers and in book form, to present and report on the Centre's work to the public and to academia. The Centre also plans to establish cooperative relationships with domestic and international academic and research institutions and jointly to promote the development of economic policy research, so as to help China and all countries in the world improve the quality of social and economic development, and promote sustainable and healthy global economic growth. Director Dr. Yuan Randong | Assistant Director, Associate Research Fellow Ph.D., University of Melbourne Research Field: Issues Related to Social Security, Pension Insurance, Public Finance, Population Aging and Urbanization

State-owned enterprises and private enterprises are the dual mainstays of China's mixed-ownership economy. The organic connection between the two at multiple levels including livelihoods, supply chains and finance is an important characteristic of China's economic ecosystem. In the New Era, both state-owned enterprises and private enterprises are faced with new challenges and repositioning requirements, such as the need for effective R&D, internationalization, global compliance, and improving the construction of corporate ESG systems. The Institute of International Affairs  leverages its high-level research resources to help SOEs and private enterprises deal with such new challenges. Focusing on effective R&D, internationalization, global compliance, ESG system construction, policy coordination, the mixed-ownership economy, and the positioning of state-owned enterprises and private enterprises, the Centre for Enterprise Studies provides advice for policy makers on improving the mixed-ownership economy, strengthening government-business relations, and optimizing enterprise positioning. Director Zheng Yongnian Professor, CUHK-Shenzhen President, IIA Ph.D., Princeton University Research Field: International Relations, China’s Foreign Policy, Sino-US Relations, China’s Domestic Transformation and its External Relations

While technology innovation and sustainable development are the means, the goal is development: the two complement each other and are mutually indispensable. On the one hand, sustainable development is high-quality development, to which the key lies in innovation, thus sustainable development needs to be based on technological innovation. Conversely, technological innovation is not just an economic or technological issue, but also a social and political one. Technological innovation needs to be oriented towards sustainable development, so when considering its technical and commercial value, account should also be taken of social and environmental impacts. In this context, the Centre for Technology Innovation and Sustainable Development will be built on three main platforms-research network, academic journal and information hub - supporting four workstreams: policy research, academic research, government consultancy and specialized training. The Centre will undertake policy and academic research on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) proposed in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focusing on the following seven topics: The middle-income trap, the middle-technology trap, and institutional innovation and reform (SDGs 8 and 9) Reverse globalization, supply chain restructuring and industrial innovation and upgrading (SDGs 8 and 9) Great Power Games, technological containment, and technological innovation and breakthrough (SDGs Goals 8 and 9) Climate politics, carbon neutrality, and green innovation and development (SDGs 12-15) Energy revolution, smart energy, energy innovation and transformation (SDG 7) Digital revolution, new infrastructure, urban innovation and Smart Cities (SDG 11) Bipolarization, common prosperity, responsible innovation and equitable transition (SDGs 10 and 16) Director Dr. Huang Ping | Associate Research Fellow  Ph.D., Harbin Engineering University (joint training with Utrecht University) Research Field: Science and Technology Policy, Innovation Policy, Geography of Innovation, Sustainability Transitions, Climate Governance

Finance is the lifeblood of the modern economy, and promoting financial opening is conducive to China's high-quality development. As a world power, China bears weighty international responsibility for promoting the process of globalization. Financial opening is a major trend in the globalization of the world economy today, an important channel for countries to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, and the main lever through which China can promote internationalization. While promoting financial opening and globalization, China should also uphold global financial stability, because financial opening will both increase financial interdependence and risk contagion, and diversify sources of risk. How to continue to promote financial opening and globalization while maintaining the stability of the  global financial system is a shared problem facing the international community, and it is also the research mission of the Centre for Financial Opening and Stability. The Centre focuses on RMB internationalization, digital currency, digital assets, cross-border electronic payments, financial big data, financial stability, global financial regulatory cooperation and comparative research. Director Zheng Yongnian Professor, CUHK-Shenzhen President, IIA Ph.D., Princeton University Research Field: International Relations, China’s Foreign Policy, Sino-US Relations, China’s Domestic Transformation and its External Relations

The Centre for Research on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area comprises a group of researchers with both domestic and international academic backgrounds. The Centre is committed to supporting the national strategy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promoting the high-quality development of the region. Its research scope mainly encompasses significant national development issues around policy evaluation, governance and urban planning. Drawing on the resources of the Institute of International Affairs and The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in global studies, public policy, urban studies and other disciplinary strongpoints, and actively cooperating with eminent universities and research institutions in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao on in-depth decision-making consultancy and empirical research in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Centre provides both decision-making support and theoretical underpinning for the regional development of the Greater Bay Area. In addition, we are actively expanding long-term cooperative relations with government and enterprises, and giving our strong support to strengthening in-depth cooperation and long-term development amongst the ‘9+2 cities’ of the Greater Bay Area (the nine principal urban areas of Guangdong Province, plus Hong Kong and Macao). The Centre for Research on the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is committed to building a comprehensive scientific research platform supporting the development of the Greater Bay Area with its distinctive characteristics. Director Dr. Xiang Xunyu | Assistant Research Fellow Ph.D., University of Hong Kong Research Field: Social Policy, Nonprofit Management, Network Science, Social Entrepreneurship