Overview

The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics (IET), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) traces its origins to the Power Research Laboratory founded in 1956 by Academician Wu Chung-Hua, a distinguished scientist who pioneered the General Theory of Three-Dimensional Flow and the philosophy of scientific energy utilization. As an institution directly affiliated with CAS, it is recognized worldwide as the cradle of the engineering thermophysics discipline. For nearly seven decades, adhering to its mission as a core component of China's national strategic sci-tech force, the Institute has been committed to seizing the commanding heights of energy and power technologies, and to building a world-class research institute. The Institute strives to formulate pioneering theories, develop cutting-edge technologies, and cultivate high-caliber talents to support the sustainable development of China's energy and power sector.

In 2025, focusing on the core mission of seizing the commanding heights of energy and power technologies, the Institute fully accomplished all tasks set forth in the 14th Five-Year Plan and achieved a smooth leadership transition, marking a substantial enhancement of its comprehensive strength. In preparation for the 15th Five-Year Plan, the Institute defined four strategic development priorities: distributed energy systems and energy storage, efficient low-carbon conversion and utilization of carbon-based energy, advanced light-duty turbine power equipment, and intelligent unmanned aerial systems. The Institute also rolled out strategic arrangements for five frontier innovation fields, including novel power technologies, supercritical carbon dioxide thermal power conversion, digital and intelligent design and software platforms for energy and power equipment, advanced manufacturing and testing technologies for aerospace equipment, and preparation and utilization of sustainable fuels.

The Institute comprises 14 specialized innovation units. It hosts two National Key Laboratories, namely Light-Duty Turbine Power and Efficient and Low-Carbon Utilization of Coal, and two Basic Science Centers, namely Ordered Energy Conversion and Interfacial Transport Theory and Regulation Methods for Advanced Flight Vehicles. It also takes the lead in the construction of two major national sci-tech infrastructures, namely the High-Efficiency and Low-Carbon Gas Turbine Research Facility and the Thermal Physics Test Facility for Key Components of Air-Breathing Engines. In 2025, two Beijing Municipal Key Laboratories for Compressed Air Energy Storage and UAV Countermeasure Technology were officially approved for establishment. The Institute undertakes over 450 national key research projects, covering national key R&D programs, the National Aero-Engine and Gas Turbine Major Project, major national sci-tech infrastructure projects and strategic pilot programs. It secured more than 169 new projects under major national special programs, key R&D plans and pilot programs. Total in-place research funding for the year surpassed 2.1 billion yuan.

As of the end of 2025, the Institute had 530 staff in total, with 486 technical professionals, 3 CAS Members and 245 senior title holders. The Institute is accredited to confer doctoral and master's degrees in two first-level disciplines: Power Engineering and Engineering Thermophysics, and Aeronautical and Astronautical Science and Technology. It also offers professional doctoral and master's programs in Energy and Power, and master's programs in Environmental Science and Engineering. A new undergraduate program in Aerospace Engineering was officially approved. The Institute had over 210 doctoral students, more than 280 master's students and over 130 joint training students. As the leading institution for the development of the School of Space Exploration under the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), it also runs a national postdoctoral research station with more than 50 postdoctoral researchers.

The Institute has laid a solid foundation for international cooperation and exchange. It maintains extensive academic partnerships with prestigious universities and research institutions in more than 10 countries and regions worldwide. It is the founding organizer of a series of influential international academic conferences, including the International Symposium on Internal Aerodynamics of Flows (ISAIF), the International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines (ISABE), the Asian Conference on Gas Turbines (ACGT), The Asian Joint Conference on Propulsion and Power (AJCPP), the World Energy Storage Conference (WESC) and Energy Storage International Exhibition & Summit (ESIE). Additionally, it houses the secretariat of International Energy Storage Technology and Industry Alliance (INESA).

The Institute is the founding and host institution of the Chinese Society of Engineering Thermophysics, and the sponsor of two peer-reviewed academic journals: Journal of Engineering Thermophysics and Journal of Thermal Science.

(All data above are as of December 31, 2025)