【Domestic News】Restructuring the National Laboratory System: Driven by Integrated Circuits, Artificial Intelligence, and Quantum Information to Promote the Systematic Clustering of Key Technologies such as Semiconductors

      The National Key Laboratories are scientific research and development institutions strategically planned by the state in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on Scientific and Technological Progress. Centered on supporting the national laboratory system, they focus on major areas of scientific and technological innovation related to national security and socio-economic development.

      The restructuring of the national key laboratory system was first proposed at the Central Economic Work Conference in 2018. In 2021, the revised Law of Scientific and Technological Progress formally established these laboratories as a core component of the national strategic scientific and technological forces. In 2022, the Ministry of Science and Technology issued the Standards for the Construction of National Key Laboratories (Trial) and approved the first batch of 20 benchmark laboratories. In 2023, the Government Work Report further called for advancing laboratory restructuring in phases to build a new-type whole-of-nation system.

      Amid this restructuring process, research directions have become increasingly aligned with national strategic needs, with a focused layout in frontier fields such as integrated circuits, artificial intelligence, quantum information, and ultra-wide bandgap semiconductors represented by gallium oxide. This aims to strengthen capabilities in tackling key and core technologies.

      As of December 2025, more than 500 laboratories have completed restructuring and been incorporated into the new system. Universities leading or participating in co-construction are predominantly “Double First-Class” institutions. Nearly 110 such universities are involved (as leading or co-building entities) in approximately 80% (nearly 400) of the National Key Laboratories.

      A partial list of laboratories led or co-established by universities is as follows:https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KKmQOnJaF8J6SqozReIPeA