On 27 October, Beijing Normal–Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) inaugurated the Centre for Computational Culture and Heritage and NVIDIA Deep Learning Institute certification, a flagship partnership with NVIDIA AI Technology Centre (Global) aligned with BNBU’s 20th-anniversary celebrations. Positioned as a first-of-its-kind research centre uniting AI and Metaverse technologies with art, culture, history, and heritage, the Centre will drive interdisciplinary research, talent development, and public engagement across the Greater Bay Area, China and beyond.

 (From left to right: Mr Samuel LO, Dr Charles CHEUNG, Prof Simon SEE, President Prof CHEN Zhi, Prof Patrick CHAU, Prof Eugene CH'NG)

The Centre is equipped with AI servers and workstations, enabling cutting-edge work in deep learning, visual/spatial computing, and platforms such as Omniverse. Its mission is to transform how culture and heritage are documented, researched, interpreted, and shared—from local communities to global audiences—while advancing heritage science and the underlying technologies.

Opening the ceremony, Professor Eugene CH’NG, Dean of the School of Culture and Creativity and Centre Director, welcomed guests from NVIDIA, relevant Zhuhai government departments, and BNBU leadership, which includes Deans and representatives from all Faculties and Schools, and Directors of units.

President Prof CHEN Zhi highlighted the Centre’s role in bridging tradition and technology and credited Professor Simon SEE (NVIDIA) and Professor CH’NG for driving the concept to reality. Professor CHEN Zhi hailed the partnership as “a landmark collaboration” that unites BNBU’s liberal-arts humanism with cutting-edge AI on the university’s 20th anniversary. Thanking NVIDIA for its “state-of-the-art deep learning solutions” and the founding team—Professor Simon SEE, Professor Eugene CH’NG, and Dr. Charles Cheung—for turning “a bold idea into a space where data breathes life into history and algorithms safeguard our stories,” Professor CHEN Zhi positioned the Greater Bay Area as the ideal bridge “where tradition meets technology and heritage finds new life.” He outlined a mission to harness deep learning, AI, and immersive metaverse tools “not just as tools, but as vessels” for exploring, digitising and sharing culture, pledging the Centre will be both “a hub of interdisciplinary excellence” and “a guardian of cultural heritage,” ensuring “the past is never forgotten and progress serves the soul of our shared humanity.”

President Prof CHEN Zhi 

Professor SEE gave a very encouraging speech, noting that this is the first centre of its kind globally, and underscored the significance of preserving culture amid rapid AI advances and noted his long-standing collaboration with Professor CH’NG since 2014. Professor Simon SEE called this “a momentous occasion for NVIDIA,” emphasising that this is NVIDIA’s first collaborative Centre dedicated to computational culture and heritage. He underscored why the timing matters: as AI advances “very aggressively,” it must be paired with “humanity, culture, and heritage” to help retain ideas created over thousands of years—especially resonant in China with its 5,000-year civilizational legacy. Profeesor SEE noted his long-standing collaboration with Professor Eugene CH’NG and praised the Centre’s vision to “merge the two technologies together.” Looking ahead, he said the Centre should operate on a global stage, with NVIDIA eager to deepen collaboration and deliver results that elevate the university “at the world stage.”

Prof Simon SEE

Professor CH’NG stated that the Centre will cultivate and train talent across the Greater Bay Area in AI and Metaverse technologies, enabling BNBU to take a leading role globally in computational culture and heritage. "While technological advancements may evolve rapidly, art, history, and cultural heritage are timeless," said Professor CH’NG. "History and heritage anchor our identity, preserve our legacies, inspire creativity, and connect people across time and space. The Centre’s laboratory aims to transform the arts, culture, history, and heritage through the integration of AI and Metaverse technologies."

Prof Eugene CH'NG

The Centre’s advisory committee includes Professor CHEN Zhi, Professor Simon SEE (NVIDIA), Professor Patrick CHAU (Provost), and Professor PAN Jianxin (VP for Research and Development). Co-Directors are Dr Charles Cheung (NVIDIA) and Dr Wentao FAN (Faculty of Science and Technology). The launch drew colleagues from across BNBU and concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

As a training engine for the region, the NVIDIA DLI at BNBU will cultivate AI and Metaverse talent across the Greater Bay Area while creating opportunities with GLAM institutions and the cultural-creative industries—including pathways that combine AI, visual computing, and 3D manufacturing for heritage-inspired products and services.