SHANGHAI Jiao Tong University signed an agreement yesterday with the Palace Museum to carry out cooperation in cultural heritage protection.

The agreement also covered cultural transmission and innovation, as well as the cultivation of specialist talent.

The historical architecture department of the museum and Jiao Tong’s International Research Center for Architectural Heritage Conservation will lead the two parties in cooperating in protecting cultural relics and historical buildings at the two institutions.

The two bodies will also establish a think tank for protection of architectural heritage and a platform for scientific innovation of materials for cultural relics, focusing on talent cultivation, scientific research and technology application.

The Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry, jointly established by Jiao Tong and the University of Southern California, will also link up with the cultural service department of the Palace Museum to develop brands and create more cultural creative products, as well as promoting Chinese culture overseas.

Jiao Tong has set up a lecture series to invite curators of museums and artistic scholars from all over the world to give lectures. The aim is to better connect universities and social museums.

Shan Jixiang, curator of the Palace Museum, was the first speaker in the series when he gave a talk on the protection of cultural relics last night.

“As a historical palace with rich cultural resources, the Palace Museum will shoulder more social responsibilities, such as cultural transmission and education,” Shan said.