Chinese Academy of Sciences


The Chinese Academy of Sciences is the national academy for natural sciences and the highest consultancy for science and technology of the People's Republic of China. It is the world's largest research organization, with 106 research institutes, 2 universities, 71,300 full-time employees, and 79,000 graduate students, and ranked first in the 2025 SCImago Institutions Rankings.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences has historical origins in the Academia Sinica during the Republican era and was formerly also known by that name until the 1980s. The academy functions as the national scientific think tank and academic governing body, providing advisory and appraisal services on issues stemming from the national economy, social development, and science and technology progress. It is headquartered in Beijing, with affiliate institutes throughout China. It has also created hundreds of commercial enterprises, Lenovo being one of the most famous.
CAS also runs the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, both of which were among the world's top three academic institutions in the Nature Index rankings as of 2024. CAS has also founded and spun off multiple companies, such as Sugon and GoLaxy.

Membership

Membership of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, also known by the title Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a lifelong honor given to Chinese scientists who have made significant achievements in various fields. According to the Bylaws for Members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences adopted in 1992 and recently amended in the year 2014, it is the highest academic title in China. A formal CAS member must hold Chinese citizenship, although foreign citizens may be elected as CAS foreign academicians. Members older than 80 are designated as "senior members" and may no longer hold leading positions in the organization. Academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences carry an obligation to advance science and technology, to advocate and uphold scientific spirit, to develop a scientific and technological workforce, to attend member meetings and receive consultation and evaluation tasks, and to promote international exchanges and cooperation. Academicians can give suggestions and influence Chinese state policy related to science and technology.

History

In 1956, China formally began its computing program when it launched the Twelve-Year Science Plan and formed the Beijing Institute of Computing Technology under the CAS.
In 1964, CAS debuted China's first self-developed large digital computer, the 119. The 119 was a core technology in facilitating China's first successful nuclear weapon test, also in 1964.
Beginning in 1972, CAS began promoting the idea of balancing applied research with more theoretical research and in having scientific exchanges with other developing countries.
As vice premier, Deng Xiaoping in 1975 also sought to re-orient CAS towards more theoretical research, which had not been a focus during the Cultural Revolution. Deng emphasized that "the Academy of Sciences is an Academy of Sciences, not an Academy of Cabbage." Deng assigned CAS vice president Hu Yaobang to draft a plan for overhauling CAS. Deng and his aide Hu Qiaomu revised the draft and in September 1974 issued "The Outline Report on the Work of the Academy of Sciences". The Outline described scientific research in China as lagging behind the needs of socialist construction and the state of the advanced countries, and stated that to catch up, China should emphasize basic science in order to develop a sound theoretical foundation.
This approach to scientific reform fell out of political favor in 1976 when Deng was purged, although it continued to be supported by many members within CAS. A month before Deng's political return in 1977 however, the Outline Report was revived and adopted as CAS's official policy. During the Reform and Opening Up era, CAS discontinued its Soviet-style management model.
Shortly after his return, Deng hosted a series of meetings on science and education in which he stated that science should become the forerunner of China's modernization. Following these remarks, CAS prepared its goals for natural science disciplines to be achieved by 1985, stating that as a developing socialist country, China should strengthen basic scientific research through foreign exchanges.
To further promote this agenda, Deng began a campaign to promote the National Science Conference. A team led by CAS vice president Fang Yi instructed schools, factories, and communes to organize youth-focused events celebrating science and technology.
In 1977, the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences was split off of CAS and reorganized into the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and led by Hu Qiaomu.
In 1980, the CAS publication Journal of Dialectics of Nature convened its first annual National Symposium on Artificial Intelligence, which included national and international scholars like Herbert A. Simon. The second annual symposium announced The Chinese Association for Artificial Intelligence. CAAI has continued to be the largest AI association in China as of 2025.
The Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was established in 2001 as a successor to the Graduate School of the University of Science and Technology of China.The Ministry of Education approved the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences application to change its name to the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences on July 23, 2012. Additionally, the MOE recommended that CAS discontinue the operation of the CAS Graduate School. In 2023, the Pasteur Institute suspended ties with CAS.

Organization

The Chinese Academy of Sciences maintains a large number of subordinate institutions nationwide.

Internal organizations

According to the "Regulations on Functional Configuration, Internal Organizations and Staffing of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ", CAS has set up the following constitute departments at its headquarters:
  • Office of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Bureau of Academic Departments
  • Bureau of Frontier Science and Basic Research
  • Bureau of Major Science and Technology Tasks
  • Bureau of Sustainable Development Research
  • Bureau of Science and Technology Basic Capabilities
  • Development Planning Bureau
  • Finance and Asset Management Bureau
  • Personnel Bureau
  • Party Committee of the Immediate Organs
  • Bureau of International Cooperation
  • Bureau of Supervision and Audit
  • Bureau of Retired Cadres Work

    Directly affiliated institutions

Directly affiliated research units

Beijing units