UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region
WHITR-AP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, established in 2007 and hosted in China, that delivers heritage conservation training, research, and capacity building programs to UNESCO Member States and heritage professionals across the Asia-Pacific region through workshops, conferences, and university networks.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersShanghai, China
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region does
WHITR-AP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre established in May 2007 under an agreement between UNESCO and the People's Republic of China, headquartered at Tongji University in Shanghai. It operates three branch centers: WHITRAP Shanghai (cultural heritage conservation), WHITRAP Beijing (natural heritage conservation, hosted at Peking University), and WHITRAP Suzhou (handcrafts and traditional skills). The institute serves States Parties of the World Heritage Convention and other UNESCO Member States across the Asia-Pacific region, delivering capacity building workshops, training programs, conferences, publications, and research on World Heritage management, the UNESCO Historic Urban Landscape Recommendation, and the integration of tangible and intangible heritage.
The institute runs two notable network platforms: Heritage Asia-Pacific (HeritAP), a practitioner network with regular knowledge-sharing sessions (HeritAP Chat), and the International Network for Urban-rural Heritage Conservation in Higher Education Institutions (UHC-HEI), which has grown to over 40 full member universities and affiliated partners since its founding in September 2023. Other core outputs include the AWHEIC global awards program for innovative heritage education cases (with nearly 100 international submissions in its 2023 cycle), an ongoing newsletter series now at issue 70, and recurring capacity building workshops such as the August 2026 program in Anxi, China. The institute does not develop commercial technology products; its "platforms" are membership-based knowledge exchange and training initiatives rather than software.
The operating model is institutional rather than commercial. WHITR-AP is funded through UNESCO auspices, the Chinese government, and partner organizations; training programs and workshops are offered free of charge to selected participants, with host organizations covering accommodation, meals, and local transport. The institute employs roughly 14 staff and is governed in coordination with UNESCO, ICCROM, ICOMOS, IUCN, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, and partner universities. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region
- Legal name
- World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO
- Website
- https://whitr-ap.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- WHITR-AP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, established in 2007 and hosted in China, that delivers heritage conservation training, research, and capacity building programs to UNESCO Member States and heritage professionals across the Asia-Pacific region through workshops, conferences, and university networks.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Heritage Conservation Training and Research
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Historical Sites (71212), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)
Keywords
Where UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Shanghai
- HQ country
- China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- UNESCO Category 2 Centre Funding: As a UNESCO Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, WHITR-AP operates with institutional funding support from UNESCO, the Chinese government, and partner organizations. The institute conducts training programs and workshops where accommodation, meals, and local transport are typically covered by the host.
- Capacity Building Programs: Training workshops and capacity building programs offered free to participants, with hosts covering participant costs including accommodation, meals, and local transport during the program period.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time/ perpetual license | Free capacity building workshop with full accommodation provided |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WHITR-AP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre that delivers training, research, and capacity-building programs for World Heritage conservation across the Asia-Pacific region. It operates three branch centres (Shanghai for cultural heritage, Beijing for natural heritage, Suzhou for handcrafts and traditional skills) and runs practitioner networks (HeritAP, UHC-HEI), awards programs (AWHEIC), and workshops targeting heritage professionals and site managers.
Product overview
The UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP) is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre that operates as a training and research institute rather than a commercial software product company. Its primary offerings consist of: (1) HeritAP - a network platform connecting heritage practitioners across Asia-Pacific; (2) UHC-HEI - an international network for universities and higher education institutions focused on heritage conservation in higher education; (3) AWHEIC - an awards program for innovative heritage education cases; (4) periodic capacity building workshops and training programs; (5) newsletters and publications; and (6) HeritAP Chat knowledge sharing sessions. The institute does not offer a traditional software product or SaaS platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Heritage Asia-Pacific (HeritAP): A network of heritage practitioners supported by WHITRAP Shanghai, aiming to boost recognition of heritage practitioners' work and expand the influence of excellence in the Asia-Pacific region.
- UHC-HEI
Products and services
- HeritAP (Heritage Asia-Pacific) A network platform connecting heritage practitioners and institutions across the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating exchange of knowledge and experience and bridging theory and practice in heritage conservation and management.
- UHC-HEI (International Network for Urban-rural Heritage Conservation in Higher Education Institutions) A non-profit, non-governmental, voluntary membership international platform of universities and higher education institutions collaborating on education, research, and action in urban and rural heritage conservation and sustainable development.
- AWHEIC (Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovation Cases) Global awards program recognizing innovative cases in World Heritage education, with categories including Stars of Outstanding, Stars of Discovery, and Stars of the Future, drawing nearly 100 international submissions per cycle.
- Asia Pacific Regional Capacity Building Workshops In-person training workshops on World Heritage management covering tangible-intangible synergies, management planning, and conservation practices, delivered to approximately 20 heritage professionals per program.
- WHITRAP Newsletters Regular newsletter publication series (Newsletter 1 through 70+) documenting World Heritage conservation activities, training programs, research findings, and news across the Asia-Pacific region.
- HeritAP Chat Knowledge sharing sessions covering topics such as digital technology, heritage interpretation, and conservation practices in relation to World Heritage contribution to SDGs.
- World Heritage Map Interactive mapping resource showcasing World Heritage sites in the Asia-Pacific region.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 cases selected from nearly 100 submissions worldwide in the 2023 AWHEIC competition
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- ICOMOS ChinacoreWHITR-AP Beijing and ICOMOS China co-host the Capacity-Building Workshop in the Asia-Pacific Region in Anxi, China (August 2026), targeting integrated tangible-intangible heritage management.
- School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking UniversitycorePeking University co-organizes the 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop and provides academic expertise through its School of Archaeology and Museology for heritage conservation training.
- UNESCO Regional Office for East AsiacoreUNESCO Regional Office for East Asia serves as a guidance unit for the 2026 Capacity-Building Workshop, providing institutional support and alignment with UNESCO frameworks.
- Tongji University / College of Architecture and Urban Planning (CAUP)coreWHITR-AP Shanghai is hosted at Tongji University. CAUP and WHITR-AP co-organize conferences, research projects, and established the UHC-HEI Network together in September 2023.
- Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning and Design Institute Co., LTD (TJUPDI)majorTJUPDI co-organized the 2023 International Conference on Urban Heritage Conservation and Design for Sustainable Development alongside WHITR-AP and Tongji University.
- ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property)coreICCROM collaborated in the founding symposium of WHITR-AP in May 2007 and continues as an advisory body partner for heritage conservation training and research programs.
- Chinese National Commission for UNESCOcoreThe Chinese National Commission for UNESCO co-organized the founding symposium of WHITR-AP in May 2007 and continues to support the institute's operations.
- UNESCOcoreWHITR-AP operates as a Category 2 Centre under the auspices of UNESCO, serving States Parties of the World Heritage Convention and UNESCO Member States in the Asia-Pacific region to promote conservation and development of World Heritage.
- ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)coreICOMOS is listed as a linked organization and partner, contributing to the UHC-HEI Network and collaborating on capacity building workshops such as the 2026 Anxi workshop.
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)coreIUCN is listed as a linked organization, contributing advisory expertise for World Heritage conservation efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): IUCN is a global authority on natural heritage and biodiversity conservation, providing advisory input on World Heritage nominations. It is a linked organization to WHITR-AP and operates at a much larger scale across all natural heritage globally, while WHITR-AP focuses on Asia-Pacific training.
- U.S. National Park Service: The U.S. National Park Service manages federal historic sites and runs extensive training programs for heritage professionals. It shares WHITR-AP's capacity building focus but operates as a large US federal agency with vastly more resources.
- Historic England: Historic England is the UK government's statutory adviser on heritage conservation, with broad mandate across cultural, architectural, and archaeological heritage. It operates at significantly larger scale with paid advisory services, comparable to WHITR-AP's heritage conservation training and advisory mission.
Direct peers
- Getty Conservation Institute: The Getty Conservation Institute is a private research institute dedicated to advancing conservation practice in the visual arts. It shares WHITR-AP's training, research, and capacity building mandate, but operates globally from the US with significantly larger resources.
- Aga Khan Trust for Culture: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture focuses on the conservation and revitalization of historic environments in Muslim societies. It shares WHITR-AP's capacity building and integrated heritage management approach, operating across multiple geographies with comparable program structures.
- ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property): ICCROM is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to heritage conservation training and research globally. It is a co-founding partner of WHITR-AP and serves as an advisory body, sharing the same mandate of capacity building for cultural property preservation.
- ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites): ICOMOS is a global non-governmental organization providing expertise on cultural heritage conservation, including World Heritage. ICOMOS is a core partner of WHITR-AP in the UHC-HEI Network and capacity building workshops, sharing the same advisory and capacity building mandate.
- World Monuments Fund: World Monuments Fund is a private non-profit that preserves historic sites through advocacy, expertise, and grant-making. It shares WHITR-AP's focus on cultural heritage preservation and operates similar site-focused programs globally.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: The UNESCO World Heritage Centre is the secretariat for the World Heritage Convention and oversees WHITR-AP as a Category 2 Centre. It is the direct institutional parent and operates the global framework that WHITR-AP implements regionally in Asia-Pacific.
Emerging players
- Cambridge Heritage Research Centre: The Cambridge Heritage Research Centre is a university-based academic center for interdisciplinary heritage research. It shares WHITR-AP's research and education mandate through the UHC-HEI network, but operates as a UK academic center rather than an intergovernmental training institute.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region social profiles
Digital presenceUNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region
What does UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region do?
WHITR-AP is a UNESCO Category 2 Centre that delivers training, research, and capacity-building programs for World Heritage conservation across the Asia-Pacific region. It operates three branch centres (Shanghai for cultural heritage, Beijing for natural heritage, Suzhou for handcrafts and traditional skills) and runs practitioner networks (HeritAP, UHC-HEI), awards programs (AWHEIC), and workshops targeting heritage professionals and site managers.
Is UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region a public or private company?
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region founded?
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region based?
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region is headquartered in Shanghai, China, in the Asia region.
How does UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. UNESCO Category 2 Centre Funding is the primary driver. The others are capacity Building Programs.
Who are UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), U.S. National Park Service and Historic England. Direct peers are Getty Conservation Institute, Aga Khan Trust for Culture, ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites), World Monuments Fund and UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Cambridge Heritage Research Centre is listed as an emerging player.
Does UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region have an API?
No public API is recorded for UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region.
What industry is UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region in?
UNESCO World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for Asia and Pacific Region's product category is Heritage Conservation Training and Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJACAI, UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites, with a secondary code of BPAHAKAH, Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning. Its NAICS code is 7121.