Institute of Oceanology
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院海洋研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 海洋研究所 |
| English aliases | |
| Acronyms | IOCAS |
| Research fields | Experimental marine biology, marine ecology and environmental sciences, ocean circulation and wave studies, marine geology, marine geology and environment, marine corrosion and protection |
| Total employee count | 726 (as of the end of 2024) |
Summary
Institute of Oceanology 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
- 4 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 Oceanology have probably not served on defence-related expert committees before 2023. Because the available data are somewhat outdated, the assessment is made with medium confidence, particularly with respect to more recent activity.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that Institute of Oceanology researchers have received at least three separate defence awards over time. These include a Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award, a Military Science and Technology Progress Award, and a National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award.[1]
Of the three awards two were dated, 2007 and 2017, confirming that the awards were granted while the recipients were working at the Institute of Oceanology.[2] The date is not known for the award from the Commission granted to an Institute of Oceanology.[3] However, further analysis found that this researcher has spent their entire career, since 1966, at the Institute of Oceanology.[4] We can therefore confirm that this award was tied to work conducted at this institute.
While researchers and projects linked to the Institute of Oceanology have received at least two defence awards prior to 2021, it is unlikely to have received awards in recent years. However, as dates of awards cannot be verified due to incomplete data and insufficient source detail, this assessment is made with medium confidence. Awards granted prior to researchers' affiliation with the institute or more recently cannot be fully ruled out.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Oceanology authored 10 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 29th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 2,346 authors affiliated with the Institute of Oceanology who published during this period, 11 (<1 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
The Institute of Oceanology hosts a state-level defence laboratory, the Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Corrosion and Biological Fouling [海洋环境腐蚀与生物污损重点实验室]. State-level laboratories represent the highest tier within China's key laboratory system.[5]
One further 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.
Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment
| Name | Key Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment [海洋研究所海洋地质与环境实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Seabed structure, ocean recording, deep-sea extreme environments |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory aligns its research effort with the 'strategic goals of national security' and provides scientific and technical support for 'national defence construction'.[6] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Institute of Oceanology was not granted any military-technology patents. This places it at the very bottom (0th percentile) among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Inventors from the Institute of Oceanology were not listed on any military-technology patents during this period.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Institute of Oceanology co-authored 303 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 43rd percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 46 publications with PLA academic institutions, 216 with defence laboratories, 39 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 4 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 3 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 2,346 authors affiliated with the Institute of Oceanology who published during this period, 359 (15 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 Oceanology. 2019. 'Researcher: Wang Kai' [研究员：王凯]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Institute of Oceanology. 2023. 'Researcher: Xu Zhenhua' [研究员：徐振华]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Institute of Oceanology. 2019. 'Academician Introduction' [院士介绍]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Institute of Oceanology. 2019. 'Researcher: Wang Kai' [研究员：王凯]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Institute of Oceanology. 2023. 'Researcher: Xu Zhenhua' [研究员：徐振华]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Institute of Oceanology. 2019. 'Academician Introduction' [院士介绍]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2026. 'Hu Dunxin' [胡敦欣]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- China Aerospace Studies Institute. 2022. 'The PRC State & Defense Laboratory System'. 11 April. As of 5 March 2026.Return to content⤴
- Laboratory of Marine Geology and Environment. 2025. 'Introduction' [简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴