Research and development are at the core of our competitive power. Being bold and standing at the forefront of educational reform, we march to the beat of a new drum. This requires innovation and creativity as we continue to improve our teaching and learning competencies. XIEHE Education research and development is carried out through detailed “Where East Meets West” scrutiny of school practices, with the support of China Academy of non-government Education, the Educational System Reform Center of China Academy of Educational Policies, Shanghai Academy of Educational Sciences, and a myriad of other contributing institutes. This work includes establishing a system for educational researchers to visit schools, observe and study, apply research results, and promote best practice in the field. They pinpoint problems encountered by schools and develop detailed research case studies, which when reported, inspire creative thinking and advanced problem solving. This promotes further research and improvement, the introduction of new curricula, and the application of advanced technologies. An international research and development team of part-time and full-time professionals works year-round to gather data to support these initiatives.