2. Organizational Structure and Scale

CAS operates as an integrated innovation system that combines research institutes, academic divisions, and higher education. The structural makeup of the organization encompasses: - Research Institutes: Over 100 specialized research institutes spread across various provinces and cities in China, covering virtually all disciplines of natural sciences. - Academic Divisions: Six academic divisions consisting of top-tier scientists and scholars who hold the highest academic title in China (CAS Members/Academicians). - Higher Education Institutions: Three major universities—the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), and ShanghaiTech University (co-developed with the Shanghai Municipal People's Government)—which collectively educate over 100,000 undergraduate and graduate students. - Branch Offices and Supporting Organizations: Multiple regional branch academies, hundreds of key laboratories, engineering centers, botanical gardens, herbaria, and specialized academic publishing entities (publishing over 200 scholarly journals).

3. What CAS Does: Core Functions and Research Focus

CAS Headquarters directs its vast network toward fulfilling four primary strategic orientations: 1. Frontiers of Global Science and Technology: Pioneering basic and frontier research in fields such as quantum computing and communication, stem cell research, life sciences, physics, chemistry, materials science, and earth sciences. CAS consistently ranks at the top of global scientific output measures, including the Nature Index. 2. Main Battlefield of the National Economy: Translating scientific breakthroughs into commercial applications, driving industrial upgrades, and fostering high-tech enterprises. 3. Major Needs of the Nation: Spearheading critical national engineering and technological initiatives, ranging from advanced computing and aerospace support to environmental monitoring and energy technology. 4. Health and Well-being of the People: Advancing medical research, pharmacological innovations, biotechnology, and ecological preservation.

4. Major Scientific and Technological Infrastructure

CAS Headquarters oversees and coordinates the development and operation of the majority of China's national Large Research Infrastructures (LRIs). These world-class facilities provide vital experimental platforms for domestic and international researchers. Key installations include: - Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPCII) - Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokomak (EAST) (nuclear fusion research) - Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) - Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) - China Spallation Neutron Source (CSNS) - 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) - Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN), comprising dozens of core field stations monitoring ecological changes.

5. Products, Services, and Technology Transfer

While CAS is fundamentally a research and academic institution rather than a commercial product manufacturer in the traditional sense, its ecosystem generates extensive commercial products, high-tech spin-offs, and professional services: - High-Tech Spinoff Enterprises: CAS has incubated and founded numerous major high-tech companies that commercialize its research outputs. Notable examples include Sugon (Dawning Information Industry), specialized in high-performance computing and supercomputers, and GoLaxy, focusing on big data and information security. - Scientific and Technological Services: Provision of advanced analytical testing, synchrotron radiation beamline access, supercomputing time, and large-scale scientific data storage facilities (such as its centralized 150-TB scientific data repository). - Academic Publishing and Information Services: Publishing over 200 peer-reviewed scientific journals across diverse technical fields, alongside running evaluation tools like the journal "Early Warning List" to evaluate journal rigor and academic integrity. - Consultancy and Think Tank Services: Delivering authoritative policy appraisals, evaluation reports, and advisory services to the Chinese government and international stakeholders on economic, scientific, and social development strategies. - Talent Development and Fellowships: Providing specialized graduate education through UCAS and USTC, along with international researcher programs like the President's International Fellowship Initiative (PIFI) to attract global talent.

6. Global Engagement and International Cooperation

CAS Headquarters places heavy emphasis on open scientific collaboration. It maintains institutional partnerships with nearly 200 international research academies, universities, multinational corporations, and global science organizations. Through joint laboratories, overseas research centers, and fellowship programs, CAS actively bridges the Chinese scientific community with global research networks to address shared global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity, and public health.