University–Enterprise Collaboration Ushers in a New Chapter for Cultural and Museum Studies | Zhejiang University Faculty and Students Visit Ningbo Bangda for an Educational Field Trip

With the vibrant spirit of spring, we embark on a new journey, as schools and enterprises join forces to write a glorious chapter. On May 10, 2025, School of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University 57 teachers and students entered Ningbo Bangda Industrial Co., Ltd. , kicking off a one-day “ Smart Development of the Collection Repository “Theme” Study-travel activities 。
This event not only marks the first hands-on teaching initiative since the two parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement at the end of March 2025, but also signals that the deep integration of industry, academia, and research has entered a new phase. 

01 Exploring the Smart Manufacturing Site: Experiencing the Artisan Spirit of Care and Protection

At noon, guided by staff from Ningbo Bangda, the study‑tour group visited the facility that had just undergone a comprehensive upgrade and renovation in March this year. Bonda Pavilion ”。
 

The photo shows faculty and students from the School of Art and Archaeology at Zhejiang University visiting the “Bangda Exhibition Hall.”

Inside the exhibition hall, a comprehensive digital showcase highlights Ningbo Bangda’s achievements since its founding in 1996—spanning technological innovation, R&D, industry leadership, and real-world user case studies. Moreover, the exhibit invites teachers and students to step into a state-of-the-art smart model storage facility, where they can closely examine the precision manufacturing processes of cultural‑heritage preservation equipment and experience the technological breakthroughs of an intelligent environmental control system in areas such as temperature and humidity regulation, air cleanliness, and security monitoring.

Upon seeing one patent after another—technologies once deployed in the specialized storage facilities of the Palace Museum, the National Museum, and many other institutions—many students couldn’t help but exclaim: “So it turns out that the cutting-edge technologies safeguarding millennia‑old civilization have undergone so many generations of technological innovation!”

02 Discussing the Future of the Industry: Decoding the Innovation Gene

The afternoon session of the study‑tour–focused exchange and sharing program kicked off in the Ningbo Bangda Multi‑Purpose Auditorium. 
 

The photo shows Zhu Jianhua, Chairman of Ningbo Bangda, delivering a speech.

Zhu Jianhua, Chairman of Ningbo Bangda In his address, he emphasized: “Today, the cultural and museum sector is experiencing a period of vigorous growth. We must both keep pace with the times and remain true to the original aspirations that have guided us all along.”

He stated that cultural heritage preservation and cultural transmission are long-term, arduous endeavors. The field not only requires “capable professionals” with specialized knowledge and expertise, but also “dedicated artisans” who possess a strong sense of responsibility and a profound social mission. Ningbo Bangda is eager to support Zhejiang University—and many other institutions offering programs in cultural heritage and museology—in jointly cultivating the next generation of talent and advancing the continued development of the sector. 
 

The photo shows Professor Mao Ruohan, a researcher under the “Hundred Talents Program” at the Academy of Arts and Archaeology of Zhejiang University, delivering a speech.

Professor Mao Ruohan, a researcher under the “Hundred Talents Program” at the Academy of Arts and Archaeology, Zhejiang University. In his remarks, he stated that the cultivation of cultural and museum professionals in the new era must be in sync with the cutting edge of the industry. He expressed the hope that this study‑tour program would enable students in relevant fields to, through in‑depth exchanges with technical experts, grasp the underlying principles and innovative practices of “technology‑driven cultural innovation,” thereby injecting fresh vitality into the preservation of cultural heritage. 
 

The photo shows Luo Jin, Vice President of Ningbo Bangda, delivering a lecture on site. 
 

The photo shows Wu Shunyong, a software engineer at Ningbo Bangda, delivering a lecture on site.

During the subsequent thematic presentation session, Luo Jin, Vice President of Ningbo Bangda, delivered a talk titled “A Comprehensive Smart‑Building Solution for Collections Storage.” Drawing on nearly thirty years of industry experience, he systematically outlined how to provide professional, end‑to‑end solutions and integrated services for cultural‑heritage storage facilities—covering storage, display, conservation, and management—and how to meticulously refine every detail to comprehensively enhance and address the security of collections. Meanwhile, Wu Shunyong, a software engineer at Ningbo Bangda, leveraged the current surge in digitalization to discuss and share practical applications of digital technologies in driving industry advancement, offering fresh perspectives on cultural‑heritage preservation through clear, accessible case studies. 
 

The photo shows the scene of the lecture hall’s study‑tour exchange and sharing session.

During the subsequent open‑discussion session, faculty and students engaged in lively exchanges on specialized topics such as “the updating and iteration of software and hardware systems” and “AI‑driven industry development.” The atmosphere was charged with a thirst for knowledge and the sparks generated by the collision of diverse ideas. 

03 Launch of the Five-Year Strategy: Jointly Crafting a Blueprint for Cultural Heritage and Museums

Ningbo Bangda and the Academy of Arts and Archaeology at Zhejiang University formally signed a five-year strategic agreement at the end of March 2025. The two parties will, with respect to… Scientific research collaboration, establishment of joint R&D platforms, development of industry standards and specifications, demonstration and application of research outcomes, and international promotion. and launch in-depth cooperation across multiple fields.

This study-and-travel program marks a promising start to the collaboration between the two parties.

“Ningbo Bangda is leveraging technology to empower culture, aligning closely with our college’s academic mission of ‘deep integration between art and technology.’ This study tour has also allowed us to witness the advancements of China’s intelligent manufacturing in the field of cultural heritage preservation, particularly…” Collection Storage Construction Field “the hard power of it,” remarked Teacher Mao Ruohan, the leader of this event.

Twenty-nine years of relentless dedication have forged an industry benchmark, and on this new journey, we will join forces to pioneer a smart future for cultural heritage and museums. Ningbo Bangda will continue to deepen its… Industry–University–Research–Application Integrated innovation, through a comprehensive smart‑warehouse solution, is driving the modernization of museums, where technological prowess and cultural heritage shine in harmony. This effort propels the cultural and museum sector toward greater intelligence, standardization, and internationalization, while contributing Bangda’s expertise to fortify the nation’s cultural DNA repository.