Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院兰州化学物理研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 兰州化物所, 中国科学院石油研究所兰州分所 |
| English aliases | CAS Institute of Petroleum (catalytic chemistry, analytic chemistry and lubricating materials laboratories) |
| Acronyms | LICP |
| Research fields | Resource chemistry, energy chemistry, new materials, biology and health, focus on catalysis, lubrication, tribology, separation, analytical sciences and their application |
| Total employee count | 709 (as of 24 November 2025) |
Summary
Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics is categorised as a Core Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicators
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 4 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 2 indicators
- Research collaboration with defence entities
- 4 indicators
A core defence partner is deeply involved in research and programmes that strengthen and sustain China’s defence capabilities. Senior figures may help steer national defence research priorities; many of its researchers and projects have recently been recognised for addressing defence needs; a significant body of current work is sponsored by defence organisations; it runs laboratories aligned with military objectives; produces a large number of defence-related patents in recent years; and/or publishes extensively and regularly with defence institutions. Together, these patterns show that defence work is routine, largescale and built into the institute’s operations and identity.
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 Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics have probably not served on defence-related expert committees before 2023. However, 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 Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics researchers have received at least seven defence awards over time. These include three Gansu Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker Awards, one title of Advanced Individual in National Defence Science and Technology Industry Cooperation and Support, one Science and Technology Progress Award of the People's Liberation Army, one Henan Provincial National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award, and one Military Science and Technology Progress Award.[1]
Of these seven awards, the known dates of five confirmed that the awards were granted while recipients were working at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics. While dates are not known for two of the awards,[2] further analysis found that the researchers had spent their entire careers at the institute.[3]
The identified awards were granted between 2009 and 2025. However, only four were granted in recent years. These specifically include the 2021 Henan Provincial National Defence Science and Technology Progress Award, one Military Science and Technology Progress Award,[4] the 2022 Gansu Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker Award,[5] and the 2025 Gansu Most Beautiful Science and Technology Worker Award.[6]
Researchers and projects at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics have probably received three defence awards since 2021. However, because the available data are somewhat outdated, the assessment is made with medium confidence, particularly with respect to more recent awards.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics authored 68 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 76th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 2,214 authors affiliated with the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics who published during this period, 62 (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 a defence laboratory, referenced links to defence activities on its Chinese language website.
Key Laboratory of Material Wear and Protection
| Name | Key Laboratory of Material Wear and Protection [材料磨损与防护重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Lubrication, wear resistance, sealing and protective materials |
| Defence ties | The entity's website states that it has won the title of 'National Defence Science and Technology Innovation Team' [国防科技创新团队] at some point before July 2009.[7] This may refer to a talent programme promoted by the National University of Defence Technology.[8] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics was granted four military-technology patents, placing it in the 59th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. A total of 30 inventors affiliated with the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics were listed on these patents.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics co-authored 530 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 71st percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 17 publications with PLA academic institutions, 48 with defence laboratories, 3 with military hospitals, 427 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 49 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 20 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 2,214 authors affiliated with the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics who published during this period, 357 (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.
- Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics. 2020. 'New Materials Field: Hu Ming' [新材料领域：胡明]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Party Committee Office. 2022. 'Researcher Shi Feng from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker in Gansu Province"' [兰州化物所石峰研究员获甘肃省最美科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 30 May. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Party Committee Office. 2020. 'Wang Aiqin, a researcher at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker in Gansu Province" in the first edition of the award' [兰州化物所王爱勤研究员荣获首届陇原最美科技工作者荣誉称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 30 May. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Party Committee Office. 2025. 'Researcher Hu Litian from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker in Gansu Province in 2025"' [兰州化物所胡丽天研究员获甘肃省2025年最美科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 29 September. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Party Committee Office. 2010. 'Researcher Liu Weimin was awarded the title of National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker' [刘维民研究员获全国优秀科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 7 December. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Trade Union of Party and Government Offices. 2012. 'Researcher Zhou Huidi was awarded the "Gansu Provincial May 1st Women's Award"' [周惠娣研究员获“甘肃省五一巾帼奖”荣誉称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 7 March. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Party Committee Office. 2010. 'Researcher Liu Weimin was awarded the title of National Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker' [刘维民研究员获全国优秀科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 7 December. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; Trade Union of Party and Government Offices. 2012. 'Researcher Zhou Huidi was awarded the "Gansu Provincial May 1st Women's Award"' [周惠娣研究员获“甘肃省五一巾帼奖”荣誉称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 7 March. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Gansu Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League. 2013. 'Figure: Zhou Huidi' [人物--周惠娣]. 11 September. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2026. 'Liu Weimin' [刘维民]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics. 2020. 'New Materials Field: Hu Ming' [新材料领域：胡明]. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Party Committee Office. 2022. 'Researcher Shi Feng from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker in Gansu Province"' [兰州化物所石峰研究员获甘肃省最美科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 30 May. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Party Committee Office. 2025. 'Researcher Hu Litian from the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics was awarded the title of "Most Beautiful Scientific and Technological Worker in Gansu Province in 2025"' [兰州化物所胡丽天研究员获甘肃省2025年最美科技工作者称号]. Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, 29 September. As of 7 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics. 2009. 'Key Laboratory of Material Abrasion and Protection, Chinese Academy of Sciences' [中国科学院材料磨损与防护重点实验室]. 16 July. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- National University of Defence Technology. 2025. 'Official announcement: The 2025 High-level Scientific and Technological Innovation Talent Recruitment Plan of the National University of Defence Technology.' [权威发布 | 国防科技大学2025年高层次科技创新人才引进计划]. 23 February. As of 8 April 2026: Announcement.Return to content⤴