On 15 August, 2020, the Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage was formally established with the approval of the China Association for Preservation Technology of Cultural Relics. The event was organised by the University of Science and Technology Beijing Institute of Cultural Heritage and History of Science & Technology. The inaugural meeting was held in the form of a web conference. Experts and scholars from more than 30 institutions of higher learning, research institutes, cultural and historical institutions, related enterprises, and government agencies across the country jointly verified the establishment of the committee. Chairman Wang Shiwei, Vice Chairman Guo Hong, and Secretary-General Qu Liang of the China Association for Preservation Technology of Cultural Relics attended the meeting.

Dean Qian Wei of our college introduced the background, preparations, main tasks, and future goals of the committee to the experts present at the meeting. As the country and society pay increasing attention to the protection and utilisation of industrial heritage, experts from various fields have been actively exploring the possibility of industrial heritage conservation. The Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage aims to unite experts, scholars, and management workers together in industrial heritage conservation research, conduct relevant academic activities in the field of industrial heritage conservation, study conservation technology theories and the practical problems faced in conservation practice, and improve the technical level of industrial heritage conservation in China.

The committee members jointly reviewed the ‘Administrative Methods for the Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage of the China Association for Preservation Technology of Cultural Relics’ and exchanged their views at the meeting. The members agreed that the composition of the committee and its members should come from a variety of fields. These fields include industrial heritage material research, material corrosion and protection, structural safety inspection of industrial buildings, ecological and environmental restoration of heritage sites, and other fields related to conservation technology. At the same time, the committee serves as a platform for academic exchange, covering topics such as industrial heritage value assessment, conservation planning, and industrial heritage renewal and utilisation. In the future, the committee should work towards highlighting the advantages of multidisciplinary co-operation and play a leading role in the field of industrial heritage conservation.