Lately, Guangzhou Social Science Development & Planning Office notified SYSU of the launching of Key Research Centre of Guangzhou Port History. The Notice determined to set a key research centre of Guangzhou port history in the School of History, SYSU, to improve the research of Guangdong Shisanhang History, resource reservation and exploitation. Chen Chunsheng, the vice president of SYSU/ professor of the School of History, will be the director of the centre.

At present, SYSU has 12 key research centers covering ministry of education, province level and municipal level, of which 6 are key research centers for ministry of education, 5 are for Guangdong province, and 1 is for Guangzhou city.