Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics
Profile
| Official Chinese name | 中国科学院西安光学精密机械研究所 |
|---|---|
| Official English name | Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences |
| Chinese aliases | 西安光机所, 中国科学院光学精密机械研究所西安分所, 中国科学院西安光学机械研究所, 中国人民解放军第1503研究所 |
| English aliases | |
| Acronyms | XIOPM |
| Research fields | Ultrafast optics and photonics, novel photonic functional materials and devices, space-based high-resolution visible light information acquisition, interferometric spectroscopy imaging, space laser communications and all-optical switching, ultraviolet and low-light detection, high-precision optical tracking, measurement and aiming, high-speed optoelectronic information acquisition and processing, ocean optics |
| Total employee count | 1,085 (as of 24 November 2025) |
Summary
Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics is categorised as a Regular Defence Partner based on the following indicators:
- Defence advisor
- 1 indicator
- Defence award
- 2 indicators
- Defence funding
- 3 indicators
- Defence laboratory
- 3 indicators
- Military-technology patent
- 4 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 Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics have probably not served on defence-related expert committees. While information on relevant staff is available and current, it lacks sufficient detail to rule out all potential ties. This assessment is therefore made with medium confidence.
Defence awards
Available information indicates that researchers at the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics have won at least 22 separate defence awards. These include one National Defence Science and Technology Award, one Military Science and Technology Award, two National Defence Science and Technology Progress Awards, 16 Military Science and Technology Progress Awards, two National Defence Technology Invention Awards, and one Army Science and Technology Progress Award.[1]
Of the 23 awards, only one award has a known date: a 2020 edition of the Military Science and Technology Award.[2] The dates of the other awards are not known, preventing analysis from determining if these awards can be connected to the institute's recent work.
While Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics researchers and projects have received at least 23 defence awards prior to 2021, no awards are likely to have been granted in recent years. However, outdated and incomplete underlying data prevent confirmation of whether awards were received during researchers' employment at the institute. This assessment is therefore made with medium confidence. Awards granted to individuals not surveyed, or awards that may have been received prior to their affiliation or more recently, cannot be fully ruled out.
Defence funding
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics authored 27 publications funded by Chinese defence entities, placing the institute in the 51st percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. Of the 2,110 authors affiliated with the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics who published during this period, 51 (2 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 websites. 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.
Aircraft Optical Imaging Monitoring and Measurement Technology Research Laboratory
| Name | Aircraft Optical Imaging Monitoring and Measurement Technology Research Laboratory [飞行器光学成像监视与测量技术研究室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Monitoring and imaging tasks during take-off and separation processes for space launch; wider rocket surveillance and imaging |
| Defence ties | According to its website, this laboratory has designed optoelectronic payload products for rockets, missiles, and manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.[3] |
Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Optoelectronic Technology
| Name | Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Optoelectronic Technology [中科院超快诊断技术重点实验室] |
|---|---|
| Research topics | Ultrafast information acquisition and processing, optoelectronic devices |
| Defence ties | The entity's website states that it has completed '37 major national defence key projects' in the last five years.[4] |
Military-technology patents
Between 2021 and 2025, the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics was granted 24 military-technology patents, placing it in the 94th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis. A total of 152 inventors affiliated with the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics were listed on these patents.
Research collaboration with defence entities
Between 2021 and 2025, researchers from the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics co-authored 429 publications with at least one Chinese defence entity, placing the institute in the 59th percentile among the CAS institutes included in this analysis.
These collaborations include 44 publications with PLA academic institutions, 139 with defence laboratories, 206 with members of the Seven Sons of National Defence, 102 with members of the Seven Sons of Ordnance Industry and 6 with defence conglomerates.
Of the 2,110 authors affiliated with the Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics who published during this period, 540 (26 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.
- Baike Baidu. 2025. 'Hu Bingliang.' [胡炳樑]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴ Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Shao Xiaopeng.' [邵晓鹏]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2015. 'Liu Xuebin.' [刘学斌]. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2019. 'Xiao Maosen.' [肖茂森]. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Wang Weifeng.' [王卫峰]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Liang Yanbing.' [梁雁冰]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Li Siyuan.' [李思远]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Li Zhe.' [李哲]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Chu Changbo.' [初昶波]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Chen Yongquan.' [陈永权]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2024. 'Chen Liangyi.' [陈良益]. 9 July. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Cao Jianzhong.' [曹剑中]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Hao Wei.' [郝伟]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Gao Cunxiao.' [高存孝]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2023. 'Notice of Recruitment for the 2023 Summer Camp for Outstanding Undergraduates of Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, on the "Chang'e Lunar Exploration" Project.' [中科院西安光机所2023年"嫦娥奔月"优秀大学生夏令营招募通知]. 8 May. As of 8 April 2026. Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2021. 'Qu Enshi.' [屈恩世]. 17 September. As of 8 April 2026.
- Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Wang Weifeng.' [王卫峰]. 7 April. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Laboratory Introduction.' [研究室介绍]. As of 8 April 2026.Return to content⤴
- Xi'an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics. 2025. 'Laboratory Introduction.' [研究室介绍]. As of 5 March 2026.Return to content⤴