Institute of Modern Physics
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院近代物理研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 近代物理所, 中国科学院兰州物理研究室 |
| English aliases | Lanzhou Laboratory of Physics |
| Acronyms | IMP |
| Research fields | Nuclear physics, atomic and molecular physics, radiobiology, nuclear materials and process technology, spent-fuel reprocessing technology, nuclear technology-related materials, isotope research and development, particle accelerators |
| Total employee count | Over 980 (as of 24 November 2025) |
Summary
Institute of Modern Physics is categorised as a Regular Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicators
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 3 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 2 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 4 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 Modern Physics have almost certainly not served on any 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 Institute of Modern Physics researchers have received at least one defence award: a Gansu provincial Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker Award granted in 2024.[1]
Researchers and projects linked to the Institute of Modern Physics have probably received one defence award since 2021. However, because the underlying data are incomplete and outdated, this assessment is made with medium confidence. Awards granted to individuals not surveyed or in recent years cannot be ruled out.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics authored 30 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 53rd percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 3,688 authors affiliated with the Institute of Modern Physics who published during this period, 111 (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, one laboratory, not categorised as a defence laboratory, referenced links to defence activities on its 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.
National Laboratory of Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (NLHIRFL)
| Name | National Laboratory of Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou (NLHIRFL) [兰州重离子加速器国家实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Heavy ion acceleration and related research |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory has contributed to 'national defence number 2' [国防2号] tasks.[2] No further information about these tasks is available. |
Multiple other laboratories are listed on the IMP's 'introduction' page but have no public website. These include the Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Ion Beam Medical Research [甘肃省离子束医学研究重点实验室], the Gansu Provincial Key Laboratory of Space Radiation Biology [甘肃省空间辐射生物学重点实验室] and the Ion Accelerator and Quality Inspection and Testing Engineering Laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [离子加速器及质量检验检测工程实验室].[3] It is unclear whether the absence of a website reflects administrative factors or a deliberate effort to limit public visibility.
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Institute of Modern Physics was granted one military technology patent, placing it in the 39th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. A total of 10 inventors affiliated with the Institute of Modern Physics were listed on these patents.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Modern Physics co-authored 817 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 86th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 39 publications with PLA academic institutions, 502 with defence laboratories, 1 with a military hospital, 673 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 28 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 5 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 3,688 authors affiliated with the Institute of Modern Physics who published during this period, 924 (25 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.
- Institute of Modern Physics. 2024. 'Academician Zhao Hongwei of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker" in Gansu Province in 2024' [中国科学院院士赵红卫荣获2024年甘肃省“最美科技工作者” 称号]. 5 September. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- National Laboratory of Heavy Ion Research Facility in Lanzhou. 2025. 'Introduction' [简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Institute of Modern Physics. 2024. 'Introduction to the Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences' [中国科学院近代物理研究所简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴