During the past 60 years, Shanghai Branch of Chinese Academy of Sciences made significant progress in such fields as information, material, physics, chemistry, life science, astronomy, etc. aiming at the national strategic demands and the world science frontiers. In the early period, the scientists of Shanghai Branch made great breakthrough for China's first missile, nuclear bomb and satellite research. Meanwhile, researchers in life sciences achieved the world’s first synthetic Crystalline Bovine Insulin and total synthesis of Yeast AlaninetRNA.

After the CAS Pilot Project of National Knowledge Innovation Program started from 1998, Shanghai Branch has made more achievements concerning China's economic construction, national security and sustainable social development.

SSRF

Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) is a third-generation synchrotron radiation light source of median electron energy with excellent performances that are comparable to top synchrotron radiation facilities, and will become an invaluable tool for Chinese scientific research and industrial community. It will be able to accommodate hundreds of scientists and engineers from universities, institutes and industries doing research, experiments and R&D simultaneously. SSRF consists mainly of a 150 MeV linac and a 3.5 GeV booster of 180m in circumference, a 3.5 GeV storage ring of 432m in circumference and a number of beamlines and experimental stations. Proposed and supported jointly by Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Municipality, SSRF is China's largest ever scientific project. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics undertook the responsibility of construction and operation.

"CX-1" Micro-satellite

"CX-1" Micro-satellite, developed by Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology (SIMIT), was successfully launched on Oct. 21st, 2003. It was the first data communication satellite of less than 100kg in China. Micro-satellites constellation plays a key role in such fields as traffic transportation, environment, oil-transportation, disaster relief, prevention of forest fire, and earthquake monitoring.

Multi-payload onboard the Fengyun series satellites.

The first of the Fengyun-III series meteorological satellites and the sixth of the Fengyun-II series were successfully launched in 2008. The core payloads, including MCSR, VIRR, MERSI, IRAS, ERM, were developed by the Shanghai Institute of Technical Physics (SITP). The images and data obtained by the Fengyun series satellites played an important role in nationwide and worldwide weather forecasts.

Broadband wireless communication system for emergency response.

A broadband wireless multimedia communications system was leaded by Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology to converge the broadcasting and unicasting. After Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, when the system of public communication network in the affected areas paralyzed, the system provided communication support to earthquake relief in the very site. The system was also deployed as a long-range wireless video surveillance network in Tangjiashan quake lake, with real-time transmission to earthquake relief headquarters and the central government, providing a solid basis for decision-making.

Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) Technology

SOI technology known as "silicon-based IC technology in the 21st century" finds important applications in the fields of high-speed, low power IC, high-voltage power devices and radiation resistant microelectronics. With over 20 years' technology development, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology developed high quality SOI wafers, and finally commercialized the technology. This work won the First Class State Award for S&T Progress in 2006.

Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI)

In the China first Lunar Exploration Program, Chang'E-1 Program and the VLBI system of Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO) contributes to real-time monitoring the satellite orbit, especially during the lunar capture stage.

Life Science Achievements.

Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS) has achieved important progresses in the following areas: neuroscience, cellular signal transduction, epigenetic, tumor-related mechanism, immunology, stem cell research, metabolic diseases, plant, insect and microbe research.institutes