Recently, Ningbo Social Science Academy (NBSSA) announced the list of the fifth round of Ningbo Social Science Research Base. The research base on Dual Circulation and Economic Development and research base on Internationalizing Ningbo’s Screen Industries of University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) were selected and approved respectively in the category of ‘Development’ and ‘Cultivation’ of the Ningbo Social Science Research Base.

Ningbo Social Science Research Base is an exemplary and open research platform organized by NBSSA, aiming to serve for the development of humanities and social science and contribute to the policy development and decision making processes in Ningbo. The application of the research base is invited every three years and the construction of the base lasts for three years. This is the first time UNNC has participated in the application of this research base. In recent years, UNNC has attached great importance to research in the areas of social sciences. The approval of these two research bases provides new platforms for UNNC to further social sciences research and to contribute to the economic and social development of Ningbo.

Brief introduction of the two research bases

1. Ningbo Social Science Research Base on Dual Circulation and Economic Development

Focusing on the development difficulties of Ningbo under the “Dual Circulation” development pattern, the research base will conduct research generally in four areas including cross-border trade, innovation and entrepreneurship, digital economy, and supply chain management, with Professor Patrick Chau being the director of the research base and Professor Martin Liu being the chief expert of the research base. Professor Patrick Chau is the Vice Provost for Research and Knowledge Exchange and Li Dak Sum Chair Professor in Information Systems and Operations Management. Professor Martin Liu is the Associate Dean of Research and Knowledge Exchange and Professor in Marketing at Nottingham University Business School China (NUBS). The research base is led by a strong research team and will enhance connections with research institutions and government institutes both locally and internationally. It aims to create an international research platform with high-quality research outputs to promote social and economic development of Ningbo under the “Dual Circulation” development pattern.

2. Ningbo Social Science Research Base on Internationalizing Ningbo’s Screen Industries

The base has a team of interdisciplinary researchers with solid academic backgrounds and rich practical experience, including researchers from School of International Communications, School of Education and English (in area of screen translation), NUBS, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, Library, etc.. Professor Gary Rawnsley, Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Professor in Public Diplomacy, serves as the director of the base and Professor Xiaoling Zhang, Li Dak Sum Chair Professor in Creative Industry serves as the chief expert of the base. This base, in collaboration with Ningbo Radio and Television Group and Ningbo Short Film Association, will use short films (microfilms, microfilm festivals, and city image promotional films) as an entry point to research on short films featuring Chinese style, Zhejiang identification, and Ningbo characteristics. It aims to create a world-class film and television database and to promote the development of screen industry in Ningbo.