Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院理化技术研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 理化所, 中国科学院感光化学研究所, 中国科学院低温技术实验中心, 北京人工晶体研究发展中心, 化学研究所的相关部分 |
| English aliases | Institute of Photographic Chemistry, Cryogenic Laboratory, Beijing Research and Development Center of Artificial Crystals, Institute of Chemistry |
| Acronyms | TIPC, TIPC‑CAS |
| Research fields | Photochemical conversion and functional materials, cryogenic science and engineering, functional crystals and laser technology, biomimetic intelligent interface materials, specialised functional materials and biomedical technologies |
| Total employee count | 829 (as of 24 November 2025) |
Summary
Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry is categorised as a Core Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicator
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 4 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 3 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 Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry have almost certainly not served on any defence-related expert committees. As the data reviewed is complete, up-to-date and covers all members of the leadership team, this assessment is made with high confidence.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that researchers and projects affiliated with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry have received at least eight separate defence awards over time. These include one National Defence Technology Invention award, two National Defence Science and Technology Progress Awards, two Military Science and Technology Progress Awards, one National Defence Science and Technology Award, one Science and Technology Progress Award granted by the General Armaments Department of the PLA, and one medal for Outstanding Contribution to China's Manned Space Programme.[1]
Of the eight identified awards, the known dates of five confirmed their connection to the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. Two of the awards do not have known dates, but as the researchers had spent their entire careers at the institute,[2] the awards could confidently be connected to it. The General Armaments Department Award lacked dates, and as the recipient spent significant time at other research institutes,[3] our analysis could not confidently confirm that the award was connected to research carried out at the institute.
The five awards with confirmed dates ranged from 2006 to 2024. However, only one of these awards, specifically the 2024 National Defence Technology Invention Award, was granted in recent years.
Researchers and projects at the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry have probably received only one defence award since 2021. However, because the available information is somewhat outdated, the assessment is made with medium confidence, particularly with respect to any more recent awards.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry authored 56 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 71st percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 2,564 authors affiliated with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry who published during this period, 88 (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, four 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.
State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology
| Name | State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology [低温科学与技术全国重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Low-temperature (cryogenic) science, technology and engineering |
| Defence ties | According to its website, the goal of this laboratory is to 'serve energy strategy, national security and national economic development'.[4] The laboratory has won the second prize of the Military Science and Technology Progress Award.[5] |
Key Laboratory of Bionic Materials and Interface Sciences
| Name | Key Laboratory of Bionic Materials and Interface Sciences [仿生材料与界面科学院重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Bionic materials, construction and their application |
| Defence ties | According to its website, the goal of this laboratory is to 'contribute to the sustainable development of [China's] national economy and society and national security'.[6] |
Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal and Laser Technology
| Name | Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal and Laser Technology [功能晶体与激光技术重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | New materials for molecular design, crystal growth science and technology, laser physics |
| Defence ties | According to its website, the goal of this laboratory is to contribute to 'sustainable economic and social development and national security'.[7] |
Key Laboratory of Space Energy Conversion Technology
| Name | Key Laboratory of Space Energy Conversion Technology [空间功热转换技术实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Space cryogenic refrigeration, space thermomechanical technology |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory's strategy follows the 'overall framework of National Defence Science and Technology Innovation Base' of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry.[8] This does not refer to a singular entity, but rather to the broader defence science and technology ecosystem within TIPC. |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry was granted six military-technology patents, placing it in the 69th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. A total of 20 inventors affiliated with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry were listed on these patents.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry co-authored 585 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 78th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 17 publications with PLA academic institutions, 89 with defence laboratories, 9 with military hospitals, 460 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 158 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 9 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 2,564 authors affiliated with the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry who published during this period, 626 (24 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.
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2009. 'Researcher: Gong Maoqiong.' [研究员：公茂琼]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2009. 'Researcher: Fu Yuhua.' [研究员：符玉华]. As of 8 April 2026. Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2020. 'Researcher: Zhao Miguang.' [研究员：赵密广]. As of 8 April 2026. State Key Laboratory of Cryogenic Science and Technology. 2025. 'Awards.' [获奖]. 24 October. As of 8 April 2026. Baike Baidu. 2025. 'Yang Luwei.' [杨鲁伟]. As of 8 April 2026.
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2020. 'Researcher: Zhao Miguang.' [研究员：赵密广]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Baike Baidu. 2025. 'Yang Luwei.' [杨鲁伟]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2025. 'Laboratory Introduction.' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry. 2025. 'Laboratory Introduction.' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Key Laboratory of Bionic Materials and Interface Sciences. 2025. 'About Laboratory.' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Key Laboratory of Functional Crystal and Laser Technology. 2025. 'Laboratory Introduction.' [实验室简介]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Key Laboratory of Space Energy Conversion Technology. 2025. 'Historical Evolution.' [历史沿革]. As of 5 March 2026. This source was no longer publicly available when the research team archived sources.Return to content⤴