Projects

Leiden Asia Centre Projects

The Leiden Asia Centre develops research projects that address key political, economic, and societal developments in Asia. Organised around broader thematic priorities, our projects combine academic research with policy relevance and public engagement.

Each project results in concrete research outputs, including reports and edited volumes, and contributes to the Centre’s broader mission of strengthening Asia-related knowledge in the Netherlands and Europe.

Active projects

The projects listed below are currently active. Click on the projects to read the project description and publication(s), and learn about the researcher(s) involved:

Active Project

China Knowledge Network

January 2021

The China Knowledge Network (CKN) brings together experts, policymakers and knowledge institutions to improve understanding of China in the Netherlands. Since 2021, the network has connected hundreds of China specialists and fostered cooperation across government departments. By sharing insights into China’s policies, ambitions and global role, CKN helps make sense of the challenges and opportunities shaping relations between the Netherlands and China.

Active project

Young Japanologist: The Next Generation

December 2025

Young Japanologist: The Next Generation is a project of the Leiden Asia Centre that supports early-career researchers specialising in modern Japan. Partly funded by the Isaac Alfred Ailion Foundation (IAAF), the project combines academic research with professional experience to strengthen Japan expertise in the Netherlands.

Active Project

The Past in the Present: World War II Memory in Asia and Europe

October 2019

This project examines how World War II is remembered in Asia and Europe and how commemoration shapes national and regional narratives. By comparing local and national remembrance practices, it explores who is remembered, what is contested, and how historical legacies continue to influence contemporary debates. The project brings together experts from China and the Netherlands and aims to develop a more transnational understanding of the war.

Active project

Technology and the Future of Digital Health in Asia

February 2022

This project explores how digital health technologies became tools of governance in Asia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, it examines their impact on public health policy, surveillance practices and everyday life.

Active Project

Indo-Pacific Strategies

August 2021

The Indo-Pacific Strategies Project examines the growing strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific and the diverging visions that countries and regional organisations have developed for the region. By analysing and comparing these approaches, the project aims to improve understanding among policymakers and the wider public in Europe of the interests, priorities, and implications shaping Indo-Pacific engagement.