Research

Leiden University seeks to bring knowledge, academic top talents, and resources from Leiden and China together in mutually beneficial joint research projects that are content-driven, based on existing excellent research.

Connecting research and researchers

Leiden University seeks to bring knowledge, academic top talents, and resources from Leiden and China together in mutually beneficial joint research projects, with a focus on the following five areas:

• Data Science & Big Data, involving the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science and linked to Leiden University's Data Science research programme.
• Law, Governance and International Relations, involving the Faculties of Law, Governance and Global Affairs, Humanities, and Social and Behavioural Sciences.
• Sustainability, involving the Institute of Environmental Sciences.
• Bioscience: drug discovery and development, involving Leiden University Medical Center and Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research.
• Art and Culture, involving the Faculties of Archeology and Humanities.

Current research cooperation

Research on China and research cooperation with and China is found across Leiden University's seven faculties. This is done for example in joint research projects with Chinese universities, or in smaller projects in which approximately 250 Chinese PhD students at Leiden University are involved. Frontrunner in research cooperation with China are the Faculty of Science and LUMC.

Examples of major joint research projects with Chinese universities

• Smart Industrial Parks in China: towards Joint Design and Institutionalization, a joint project between the Institute of Environmental Sciences, Delft University, Tsinghua University and Chongqing University.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) research project between the Leiden University Institute of Psychology and the Peking University Institute of Psychology. 

Research on China

• Chinese Studies: China and the historical sociology of Empire
• Political Science: Social Media in the Chinese context

Special collection: Van Gulik

The University Library has a special collection of the works of renown Dutch sinologist Robert van Gulik. This collection consists of books and manuscripts gathered mainly in Japan and China by the Dutch writer, sinologist and diplomat Robert Hans van Gulik (1910-1967). This collection pertains mainly to Chinese fiction, music, art and literature and contains rare documents. Many of the sources were used by Van Gulik for his sinological studies or fictional work.\

Asian Library

The Asian Library at Leiden University adds to the position of Leiden as a major international knowledge hub on Asia and China. It houses Leiden University's renowned and extensive Asian collections including various special and rare Chinese collections.

Research facilities

For information on research facilities for cooperation with China visit the Leiden University Research pages. Funding for research cooperation can be found at NWO: Dutch Research Council and Lorentz Centre.