The Academy of Cultural Heritage and Creative Industry (ACC) of Jinan University, established in May 2017, is the first high-end think tank in China studying both cultural heritage and creative industry. Adhering to the principle of Cultural heritage as a resource to tell China story, ACC facilitates communication and cooperation in multi-level and multi-dimension between Jinan University and other research institutions in different countries and regions concerning culture and education by fully utilizing its international platform and academic resources.

ACC currently employs more than 40 well-known experts, scholars, and practitioners from international organizations, renowned universities, and the cultural and art industry, both domestically and internationally. They serve as think tanks to conduct research on “cooperation and exchange of cultural heritage from an international perspective”, “the integration and development of cultural heritage and creative industries”, and “the overseas promotion channels of Chinese culture”.

On October 8, 2022, Jinan University stood out among numerous applications from various countries around the world and successfully won the UNESCO Chair on World Traditional Handicrafts: Inheritance and Innovation. Professor Chen Ping, the Dean of ACC, was appointed as the chair- holder. The successful of the chair is a significant milestone in inheritance and innovation of traditional handicrafts around thke world, which is not only conducive to promoting cooperation between Jinan University and other universities but also facilitates exchanges between China and the world.

Currently, ACC’s work mainly focuses on five major areas. Firstly, conducting academic research on cultural heritage and creative industries, promoting the construction of cutting-edge and leading concepts in international cultural heritage. Secondly, collaborating with well-known domestic and foreign schools, enterprises, and institutions to expand academic exchange channels for cultural heritage, and cultivate talents in cultural heritage and creative industries. 3. Actively collaborating and innovating with local governments to assist in regional cultural and creative design and rural revitalization strategy implementation. Forthly, expanding cultural promotion through multiple channels, with the Living Heritage Wechat official account as the online platform and the Sihai International Art Space established on November 14, 2021 as the offline platform. Fifthly, actively carrying out foreign exchanges and international cooperation.

While committed to promoting the improvement and development of the cultural and creative industry, ACC actively utilizes contemporary design concepts and capabilities to transform China's rich cultural heritage from resources to capital, allowing traditional culture to undergo creative transformation and innovative development in universities, making both important elements of China's story and showcasing the soft power of Chinese culture in all aspects, helping people to people exchanges along the Belt and Road and Chinese culture going global.