Institute of Chemistry
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院化学研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 化学所 |
| English aliases | |
| Acronyms | ICCAS |
| Research fields | Polymer science, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and inorganic chemistry |
| Total employee count | 537 (as of the end of 2024) |
Summary
Institute of Chemistry is categorised as a Regular Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicators
- Defence award
- 1 indicators
- Defence funding
- 4 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 1 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 3 indicators
A regular defence partner frequently contributes to the development of China’s defence capabilities. Evidence indicates participation by multiple researchers in defence-related activities, with such activities occurring at consistent intervals and continuing in recent years. While engagement may be limited in scale or scope, its continuity suggests an established pattern of defence collaboration rather than isolated involvement
Rules-based framework
| Rule | Resulting category |
|---|---|
| Two or more indicators = 4 | Core defence partner |
| One indicator = 4 and two indicators = 3 or Three or more indicators = 3 | Regular defence partner |
| One indicator = 4 and one indicator = 3 and all other indicators = 1 or 2 or Two indicators = 3 and all other indicators = 1 or 2 | Limited defence partner |
| All indicators between 0 and 2 | Civilian institute |
| Three or more indicators = 0 | Insufficient data |
Note: All indicators operate on a 0 to 4 scale. There are a total of six indicators.
For more information on the graded scales see the user guide.
Defence advisory roles
Members of the leadership of the Institute of Chemistry have almost certainly not served on defence-related expert committees. As the data reviewed are complete, up-to-date and cover all members of the leadership team, this assessment is made with high confidence.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that no Institute of Chemistry researchers have received defence awards to date.
Researchers and projects at the Institute of Chemistry have possibly not received any defence awards. However, because the underlying data are outdated and incomplete, this assessment is made with low confidence. Other defence awards granted to researchers or projects linked to the institute cannot be ruled out.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Chemistry authored 76 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 84th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 3,389 authors affiliated with the Institute of Chemistry who published during this period, 114 (3 per cent) had at least one defence-funded publication. However, it is not possible to attribute specific funding to individual researchers based solely on publication data.
Defence laboratories
No publicly available information suggests that this institute hosts or is affiliated with any known defence laboratories. However, two laboratories, not categorised as defence laboratories, referenced links to defence activities on their Chinese‑language website.
General references to promoting national security or defence are common on CAS laboratory websites. These statements often serve as broad affirmations of alignment with national policy objectives — a routine expression of support for government priorities that can be important for maintaining institutional standing, access to funding or official recognition — rather than firm evidence that the laboratory conducts defence-related research.
Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems
| Name | Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems [活体分析化学重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | In vivo sampling, biological applications, selective analysis, biological applications, experimental equipment and instruments |
| Defence ties | According to its website, before 1960 this laboratory focused on the 'separation and analysis of Baiyun Obo iron ore and the uranium and rare earth elements in it, making important contributions to the national economy and national defence construction'.[1] The website adds that its research focus has since shifted towards the life sciences, with no further references to defence-related activities. |
Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics
| Name | Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics [工程塑料重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Olefin polymerisation catalysts and controllable polymerisation, polymer nanocomposites, thermoplastic polymer composites, environmentally friendly polymer materials |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory has completed tasks for 'national defence and the military industry'.[2] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Institute of Chemistry was not granted any military-technology patents. This places it at the very bottom (0th percentile) among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. No inventors from the Institute of Chemistry were listed on any military-technology patents during this period.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Chemistry co-authored 436 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 61st percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 23 publications with PLA academic institutions, 73 with defence laboratories, 14 with military hospitals, 306 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 198 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 7 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 3,389 authors affiliated with the Institute of Chemistry who published during this period, 551 (16 per cent) had at least one defence-related collaboration.
Return to directoryNotes
All cited web content was viewed at its original website location; however, to ensure ongoing accessibility we are providing links to Internet Archive versions here.
- Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Living Biosystems. 2025. 'Laboratory overview' [实验室概况]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Key Laboratory of Engineering Plastics. 2025. 'Laboratory introduction' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴