A Shared Technical Frontier for Ancient Civilizations

The laboratory, led by Beijing’s Palace Museum and the Institute of Electronic Structure & Laser (IESL) in Greece, functions as a bridge between two of the world's most significant cultural repositories. What began as a high-level diplomatic visit has matured into a cross-continental research network. Currently, the facility operates 750 square meters of laboratory space, split between China and Greece, to develop advanced conservation tools including laser cleaning and non-destructive testing.

At the Palace Museum, researchers are applying these collaborative findings to Lingzhao Xuan, a rare Western-style structure within the Forbidden City. Duan Hongying, who leads the material science group for the project, describes the building as a testing ground for international stone conservation. By integrating Greek laser technology with Chinese architectural heritage, the team is designing portable equipment for on-site restoration. The partnership has expanded to include 12 institutions, with recent outreach efforts extending to archaeological projects in the UAE and planned operations in Malta.