Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is a ”national team” of China’s drive to explore high technology and the natural sciences. Comprising a comprehensive research and development network, a merit-based learned society and a system of higher education, CAS brings together scientists and engineers to address both theoretical and applied problems using world-class scientific and management approaches. CAS now has 13 branches, consisting of 104 affiliated research institutes.

Shanghai Branch is responsible for managing CAS institutes located in Shanghai, Zhejiang and Fujian, including fostering of institutional directors , organizing scientific and technological cooperation between CAS and local governments, and coordinating regional innovative efforts; supervision, auditing, liaison with Shanghai-based CAS academicians, postgraduate education, and other locality-based affairs.

Shanghai Branch consists of 15 research institutes with legal entity, a number of technology transfer and incubation platforms. Besides, Shanghai Education Center and Shanghai Institute for Advanced Studies are its important components.

As of December 2016, Shanghai Branch has more than 10,000 regular staff, out of which 9674, or 86.1%, are professional personnel, including 3,845 senior professional and technical staff. Among the high-caliber talent are 58 CAS academicians, 141 experts under the “1,000 Talents Program”, 153 recipients of “National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars” and 19 innovative groups designated by National Natural Science Foundation of China. On top of that, there have been 68 appointments as chief scientist of National 973 and 863 Projects.

Research Disciplines

Shanghai Branch research covers a great variety of disciplines with long-term accumulation in most priorities as listed below.

Material sciences and technologies: synchronous radiation, nuclear science and technologies, high energy density physics, organic chemistry and organic materials, inorganic nonmetallic materials and metals, astrophysics, astrogeodynamics and methodologies;

Information sciences and technologies: communication technology, micro-electronics, optoelectronics, laser technology and infrared technology;

Biological sciences and technologies: bio-chemistry and molecular biology, cell biology, neurobiology, plant physiology, molecular genetics, innovative medicine and bio-technology, virology and immunology, nutriology;

Aiming at continuous enhancement of innovation capacity, efforts are also made to promote inter-disciplinary research and build up the capability in offering system integration and total solutions, with priority given to IT, alternative energy, new materials, space and ocean science, public health and mega-science engineering.

Indigenous Innovation and Research Achievements

In support of national key strategic programs, Shanghai Branch successfully constructed China’s largest Big Science equipment – Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) and “Shen Guang” series high-power laser facility. Shanghai Branch developed a broadband wireless communication system that was used effectively in the disaster relief efforts in Wenchuan and Yushu earthquakes; participated in the research of the payload, related materials and instrument of Quantum Satellite; developed lunar orbit laser altimeter and completed the mission of VLBI precision orbit determination for China’s Lunar Exploration Project; and successfully developed multiple payload parts for “Feng Yun”, “Hai Yang” and “Huan Jing” series application satellites.

In basic and inter-disciplinary research, Shanghai Branch made major breakthrough on the C–H functionalization via electrochemical oxidation; determined the high-resolution atomic structure of a full-length class B G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) which reveals novel receptor activation mechanisms；made key breakthroughs in the research of new generation ultra-short, extra-intense laser technology; completed synthesis, identification and analysis of eight new nuclides including Pt202; and discovered evidence for the existence of supermassive black hole in the center of the Galaxy.

In consistency with China’s socioeconomic development needs, Shanghai Branch organizes joint research for technology breakthroughs and system integration. It is committed to offering total solutions and leading the development of strategic emerging industries, accomplishing key achievements in multiple areas. With a forward-looking perspective, Shanghai Branch successfully deployed the wireless sensor network at the Expo 2010 and Pudong International Airport for safety and security, and elevated Internet of Things to a state-level strategic emerging industry.

Shanghai Branch completed China’s only base of high-end silica-based SOI materials and realized its industrialization. Sodium-sulphur battery energy storage system has been developed to support smart grid. Coal-based Ethylene Glycol industrialization has been put into operation, which drives clean usage of coal. Electric car has been developed and industrialized, making its space in the alternative energy automobile market. Shanghai Branch independently developed Antofloxacin hydrochloride as China’s first fluoroquinolones original medicine. Through genome engineering, directing, the third generation anti-parasitic agent for livestock was developed and

put into production in Zhejiang Province.

International Cooperation

Shanghai Branch puts international cooperation high on its agenda and has been developing a comprehensive, multi-tiered and high-quality network of international exchange. It has established friendly cooperative relations with more than 430 institutions from over 20 countries and regions through jointly developing cooperation platforms, signing cooperation agreements, hosting academic conferences and other forms of exchange. The number of guests received and that of its employees dispatched to foreign countries both exceed 2,000 a year, which effectively helps improve its indigenous innovative capacity and its international profile.

Jointly developing cooperation platform such as Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology have become the important institutes in Shanghai. Meanwhile, Shanghai Branch signed agreements with Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Nedo of Japan and the Department of Energy of United States.

The Exploratory Round Table Conferences (ERTC) co-sponsored by CAS and MPG has been held for 5 successive years , with themes on synthetic biology, quantum information science and space, electrochemistry, individualized medical and so on. Such high level academic exchange activities create new platforms for scientists from China, Germany and other countries, promoting strategic research between Chinese and German science communities.