After prolonged deliberation and consultation, the Academic Board has finally agreed on the following preliminary list of research areas and topics for 2007, to be added on to as the need arises. As they are open to all working in this field in the world, we sincerely hope that colleagues of this university and other institutions of higher learning will come forward with their applications to work together with us in promoting studies in this field.

The topics can be grouped into the following seven areas:
1. Research on unearthed materials and data and the collection and compilation of ancient texts ( including the sorting-out, gathering-together, collation, annotation, emendation and interpretation of texts unearthed or handed down from ancient times and the research thereinto ).
2. Giving new interpretations to ancient Chinese culture (Re-examination and reappraisal of ancient Chinese society, literature, history, religion, philosophy, classicism, etc. in the light of new data, from a new take or by developing new approaches ).
3. Investigating the evolution of Chinese society, literature, history, religion, philosophy, etc. into its respective modern version ( with emphasis on retracing the processes of their change and understanding the significance and consequences of the evolution for China ).

The institute lays special emphasis on collaboration with academia worldwide in studies in the following four areas:
4. China in the eyes of her neighboring countries and regions. This refers to the study of the heritage of China and her traditional culture in the light of textual materials and data in different languages in cultural regions adjacent to China.
5. A critical understanding of international Chinese studies. Herein lies our hope to understand the approaches and achievements of Chinese studies in other countries in their respective non-Chinese context so as to lead to a better understanding of the similarities and differences between non-Chinese approaches and their Chinese counterparts.
6. An intermixed cultural history. Herein lies our hope of making empirical studies of ancient texts, historical incidents, personages, etc. relating to cultural exchange between China and her neighbors and of adumbrating our respective awareness of the issues involved in the study of cultural history.
7. The China image: the study of graphic and textual materials. This is an area wherein achieving an understanding and data-collection are of equal importance and whereby we hope to build a data bank of textual and graphic materials about China from non-Chinese sources with which to study how China and other countries have looked at each other in history and the changes that have occurred in the historical process.

Apart from the areas of study listed above, the institute may also accept research topics proposed by scholars of Fudan and other schools in the world themselves and if they are approved by the Academic Board they may receive financial aid from the institute.

Participation and collaboration of colleagues worldwide are welcome.