Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

What Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences does

The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) is the first comprehensive research institution for eco-environmental science and technology in China, founded in 1975 under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and headquartered at 18 Shuangqing Road, Haidian District, Beijing. It operates 11 research departments and laboratories — including three State Key Laboratories (Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Urban and Regional Ecology) and additional CAS Key Laboratories — covering environmental chemistry, systems ecology, environmental biology, and environmental biotechnology. RCEES is directed by Academician Zhu Yongguan and staffed by 5 academicians, 105 research professors, plus roughly 473-550 total personnel including 192 postdocs, and publishes 500+ papers annually in journals such as Science, Nature, and PNAS.

Its technology portfolio spans TiO2-based simultaneous arsenic and uranium removal (99% efficiency), electrodialysis-reduction systems that convert nitrate to ammonia while desalinating water (26.4% lower energy, 98.6% desalination), FeOOH single-atom iron catalyst electrochemical nitrate reduction (>90% selectivity), tyre chemical cytotoxicity assessment via CHO cell assays, blockchain-based isotopic big data for PM source tracing (18,760 signatures from 66 countries), and self-purification catalytic-city surface technologies. The center holds 32+ invention patents (concentrated in water treatment) and produces documented outcomes such as rice yield gains above 20% with 50% fertilizer reduction through electrochemical nitrate reduction and plant biodiversity increases above 50% through sponge-city green infrastructure.

RCEES is a non-commercial, government-owned state entity; it generates no product revenue and operates on appropriations through the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Key R&D Programs, and project-based talent subsidies (RMB 10 million per 3-year cycle). Its revenue streams are government research funding and professional research/advisory services to national and local Chinese government agencies, with secondary engagement of industry enterprises requiring environmental compliance technology and graduate students (200+ enrolled annually) seeking advanced degrees in environmental sciences and engineering. GTM is event-driven: publications, international conferences (Sustainable Development Conference 2025, One Health in Rapid Urbanization symposium, China-UK Summer School), and government advisory channels rather than commercial sales.

Name

Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences

Legal name

Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Website

https://english.rcees.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

RCEES is China's first comprehensive eco-environmental science and technology research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, founded in 1975 and based in Beijing. It operates three State Key Laboratories serving Chinese government agencies, academia, and industry through frontier research, policy advisory services, and graduate education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: Funded through national research projects, the Pilot Project of Knowledge Innovation Program of CAS, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and National Key R&D Programs
2. Research Services and Advisory: Provides fundamental data and applied high technology to government agencies and enterprises for ecological and environmental sciences

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

RCEES is a government research institution that conducts frontier research on environmental chemistry, environmental biology, systems ecology, and environmental biotechnology. It delivers applied technologies in water treatment, air pollution control, and soil remediation to government and industry, and operates graduate and postdoctoral education programs in eco-environmental sciences. The center also provides policy advisory and scientific consultation services to national and local government bodies.

Product overview

The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES) is a comprehensive research institution under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, not a commercial product company. It conducts research on eco-environmental science and technology, offering graduate education programs (M.Sc, Ph.D, postdoctoral) in environmental sciences, ecology, environmental engineering, and related fields. The institution operates 11 research laboratories including 3 State Key Laboratories and provides research services, scientific publications, and expert consultation to government and industry. No commercial products or services are offered for sale.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Education Programs (M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Eco-Environmental Sciences) Advanced-degree training programs (M.Sc. and Ph.D.) in environmental sciences, ecology, and environmental engineering, hosted by RCEES and administered through the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Targets domestic and international students seeking advanced research training under 103 doctoral supervisors and 84 master tutors.
• Postdoctoral Research Programs Postdoctoral research positions in environmental science and engineering, biology, and ecology, hosted through three RCEES postdoctoral research stations. Currently supports 192 postdocs including 13 foreign fellows, offering advanced research training under RCEES faculty supervisors.
• Research and Advisory Services for Government and Industry Provision of fundamental ecological and environmental data and applied high-technology solutions to national and local government agencies and to enterprises for policy formulation, environmental monitoring, water treatment, and remediation. Includes policy advisory, expert consultation, and technology transfer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rice yield increased by more than 20% while reducing fertilizer use by 50% using electrochemical nitrate reduction technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 February 2026Jointly hosted 2026 Human Development Report Consultation in Beijing, discussing ecological restoration, Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) accounting, and SDG progress assessment methodologies.
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Co-hosted Scoping Antimicrobial Resistance at the Food: Environmental Interface workshop in Hangzhou with 21 experts from 14 countries. Focused on antimicrobial resistance at the agrifood-environment interface following One Health approach.
• International Science Council - Urban Health and Wellbeing ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Co-organized International Symposium on One Health in Rapid Urbanization in Beijing with Belt and Road Alliance of Urban Environmental Health. Brought together scientists, public health experts, and policymakers from multiple countries.
• UK Academic InstitutionsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 February 2025Co-organized 2025 China-UK Summer School on Sustainability with leading UK academic institutions. Focused on climate change, ecosystem health, sustainable food systems, and environmental monitoring technologies.
• World Economic Forum Hoffmann FellowshipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for postdoctoral research on contributions of natural capital and ecosystem services to economic development. Joint funding of 800,000 RMB for 2 years for outstanding candidates.
• China-Sri Lanka Joint Research Centre for Water TechnologymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDecade-long science and technology cooperation between China and Sri Lanka through Overseas Cooperation Center for Environmental Science and Technology (OCCEST). Joint demonstration centre for water technology.
• Polar Research Institute of ChinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on field surveys along 1,200-kilometer transect in East Antarctica for PFAS deposition and transport research.
• Stockholm UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration on Antarctic PFAS research, analyzing deposition patterns and interhemispheric transport processes.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (ISSAS): A CAS sister institute focused on soil science and sustainable agriculture research. Directly comparable to RCEES in governance model (state research institute under CAS), scale, and complementary environmental research mandate including soil pollution — a key RCEES research area.
• Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS): A CAS institute conducting research on lake ecology, water resources, and aquatic environments. Closely comparable to RCEES as a CAS-affiliated research institute with overlapping water-environment and ecological research scope.
• Tsinghua University School of Environment: One of China's leading environmental science and engineering schools, conducting frontier research in water treatment, air pollution, and environmental policy. Comparable in research scope and elite academic standing to RCEES.
• Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ): Germany's federal research center for environmental sciences, conducting integrated research on biodiversity, water, soil, and environmental technology. Directly comparable to RCEES as a national-level, government-funded environmental research institution with similar mandate.
• UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH): A UK Research and Innovation-supported institute conducting research on ecology, hydrology, and environmental monitoring. Comparable to RCEES as a publicly funded, comprehensive environmental research institution producing scientific evidence for environmental policy.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): An independent international research organization tackling environment and sustainable development challenges. Comparable to RCEES in its policy-oriented environmental research and global partnerships with UN agencies (FAO, UNDP) — both institutions RCEES actively collaborates with.
• Beijing Normal University School of Environment: A leading Chinese academic institution conducting environmental science research with strong government policy ties. Comparable to RCEES in environmental research scope and its role as a top-tier training ground for Chinese environmental scientists and policy advisors.
• South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SCBG): A CAS institute focused on botany, ecology, and conservation biology. Comparable to RCEES as a CAS-affiliated research institution with overlapping ecosystems and biodiversity research, sharing similar governance and funding structures.

Emerging players

• Max Planck Institute for Chemistry: German atmospheric chemistry research institute collaborating with RCEES on isotopic big data for global PM source tracing. Comparable in the atmospheric and particulate-matter research domain that RCEES pursues through its State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology.

Broad incumbents

• Yale School of the Environment: One of the world's oldest and most prestigious environmental schools, conducting research across climate, ecosystems, and environmental policy. Comparable to RCEES in research excellence and international standing, though operating as a private university rather than a state research institute.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences