Teaching robots for home use, made by Tsinghua Unigroup Co Ltd, on display at an expo in Beijing.[Provided to China Daily]

A non-profit research institute for public-private partnership (PPP) was launched at Tsinghua University in Beijing on Friday.

The think tank, co-sponsored by the university, the nation's top planning authority and insurance regulator, will conduct scientific research, provide policy consulting services and professional training starting this year.

"By taking advantage of abundant educational resources, the government will strengthen cooperation with Tsinghua University to tap potential of public-private partnership model and provide more public services," said Xu Kunlin, head of National Development and Reform Commission's fixed investment department, at the opening ceremony.

The government has been championing the PPP model as one preferred and efficient way to introduce private and public capital into infrastructure and projects in the public sector, according to Xu, but further efforts are needed to improve implementation of projects and to seek solutions to protect interests of investors.

A survey conducted earlier this year by Minsheng Securities showed that only 13 percent contracts have borne fruit out of 1.6 trillion yuan worth of PPP announced.

Chen Wenhui, deputy head of China Insurance Regulation Commission, said that the think tank will be able to provide more support for training professionals in insurance industry that will for sure play its role in financing and investment in PPP projects in the future.