中科院声学所

What 中科院声学所 does

The Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (中国科学院声学研究所) is a state-owned national research institute founded in 1964 and headquartered in Beijing's Zhongguancun district, with three regional sea research stations covering China's South Sea (Hainan), East Sea (Shanghai), and North Sea (Qingdao). It is the only national-level acoustics research body in China and operates the country's sole National Key Laboratory of Sound Field and Acoustic Information, consolidated in 2022 into the new Acoustics and Ocean Information Key Laboratory.

The institute conducts basic and applied research across six established domains: underwater acoustic physics and detection, environmental acoustics and noise control, ultrasonics and acoustic MEMS, communication acoustics and speech/language information processing, acoustic and digital system integration, and high-performance networking and new media. Its technology portfolio includes the independently developed Fenduzhe (奋斗者号) acoustic system enabling high-speed digital underwater acoustic communication at 10,000-meter full-ocean depth, underwater security systems deployed at the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai World Expo, synthetic aperture sonar for international underwater archaeology, serial Doppler current profilers for national oceanographic expeditions, array/while-drilling acoustic logging tools supplied to multiple Chinese oilfields, vibration and noise-reduction technologies for high-speed rail and large aircraft, a sea-cloud architecture audio content analysis platform, advanced voice front-end processing deployed in smart home appliances, and the Haiyun Network new media service platform serving 100,000 users across Shanghai, Dongguan, and Hainan. It also runs the National Engineering Research Center for Network and New Media Technology and publishes the Chinese Journal of Acoustics.

Commercially and operationally, the institute is funded primarily by central government appropriations, national science and technology mission budgets, and technology transfer agreements with industrial partners (oilfield operators, appliance manufacturers, transportation OEMs, media platforms). It has 4 CAS academicians, over 100 national and CAS talent-program members, 2 postdoctoral mobile stations, and approximately 1,100 staff participating in annual physical examinations. Revenue, budgets, and contract values are not publicly disclosed. The institute is not a typical investable entity — it has no external shareholders, no funding rounds, no IPO, and no commercial pricing — and operates instead as a sovereign R&D platform serving Chinese national strategic priorities in ocean, security, energy, life health, and information networks.

Name

中科院声学所

Legal name

中国科学院声学研究所

Website

https://ioa.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Institute of Acoustics, Chinese Academy of Sciences is a national research institute founded in 1964 that conducts basic and applied research across underwater acoustics, ultrasonics, speech processing, and high-performance networking, serving Chinese central government strategic priorities in ocean, security, energy, life health, and information networks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acoustics Research and Technology Development

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Sonar, Undersea Sensors & Acoustic Detection Systems (IMABAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine Cybersecurity & Networked OT Systems (IMAJAJAH), Navigation & Aids-to-Navigation Works (Beacons, Buoys, Markers) (IMAFAJAH)

Keywords

• Underwater acoustics research
• Acoustic signal processing
• Ocean exploration technology
• Noise control systems
• Speech processing technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Beijing

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Government-funded Research Projects: As a national research institute, the Institute of Acoustics primarily receives funding from government research grants, national science and technology missions, and strategic research programs in areas of ocean, security, energy, life health, and information networks.
2. Technology Transfer and Services: Provides technology products and services to enterprises including oil field logging equipment, underwater security systems, Doppler instruments, and noise control solutions for high-speed trains and aircraft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

中国科学院声学研究所 is a national-level research institute that conducts foundational and applied research in acoustics and information processing technology. It develops and transfers acoustic systems and technologies for national strategic needs in ocean exploration, security, energy, life health, and information networks, including deep-sea submersible acoustic systems, underwater security systems, acoustic logging tools for oil fields, noise reduction systems for transportation, speech processing technologies, and new media service platforms. The institute also operates regional research stations and national key laboratories.

Product overview

中科院声学所 is a comprehensive research institute dedicated to acoustics and information processing technology. The institute has developed a portfolio of technologies and systems across six core research domains: underwater acoustics physics and detection, environmental acoustics and noise control, ultrasonics and acoustic micro-electromechanical systems, communication acoustics and speech/language information processing, acoustic and digital system integration, and high-performance networking and new media technology. The institute's major products include the Fendouzhe submersible acoustic system enabling 10,000-meter depth communication, underwater security systems, synthetic aperture sonar, Doppler current profilers, acoustic logging tools for oil fields, vibration/noise reduction technology for transportation, and sea-cloud architecture audio analysis systems. The research portfolio also includes advanced voice processing technologies for smart appliances and smart TV public service platforms. The institute operates research stations in Hainan (南海研究站), Shanghai (东海研究站), and Qingdao (北海研究站), along with multiple national-level laboratories and research centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 声场声信息国家重点实验室: 国内声学学科唯一的国家重点实验室
• 声学与海洋信息重点实验室
• 国家网络新媒体工程技术研究中心

Products and services

• Fendouzhe (奋斗者号) Submersible Acoustic System Deep-sea acoustic system developed for the Fendouzhe (Striver) manned submersible, enabling high-speed digital underwater acoustic communication at 10,000-meter depth. Used for ocean deep-sea exploration missions.
• Underwater Security System (水下安保系统) Underwater surveillance and security monitoring system deployed for major national events including the Beijing Olympics and Shanghai World Expo, providing real-time underwater threat detection.
• Synthetic Aperture Sonar (合成孔径声纳) High-resolution synthetic aperture sonar system successfully applied to international underwater archaeology operations and underwater imaging applications.
• Doppler Current Profiler Series (多普勒流速剖面仪) Series of Doppler current profilers and Doppler velocity profile instruments that have repeatedly supported national oceanographic expeditions and ocean survey missions.
• Array/While-Drilling/Far-Field Acoustic Logging Systems (阵列声波测井/随钻声波测井/远场声波测井) Array acoustic logging, while-drilling acoustic logging, and far-field acoustic logging technologies that have broken through multiple key technologies and are provided to multiple oil fields for subsurface formation characterization.
• Vibration and Noise Reduction Technology (减振降噪技术) Vibration and noise reduction technology successfully applied to high-speed rail trains and large aircraft for noise monitoring and control.
• Haiyun (Sea-Cloud) Architecture Audio Content Analysis System (海云架构音频内容分析与理解系统) Audio content analysis and understanding system based on sea-cloud architecture designed to address challenges in manual processing of massive audio data at scale.
• Advanced Voice Front-End Processing Technology (先进语音前端处理技术) Advanced voice front-end processing technology applied in smart home appliances to enable robust far-field voice interaction.
• Haiyun Network New Media Service System (海云网络新媒体服务系统) Maritime cloud network new media service system, China's first industry-level smart TV public service platform, covering Shanghai, Dongguan, and Hainan with 100,000 users in next-generation broadcasting demonstration areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fenduzhe submersible achieved 10,000-meter depth high-speed digital underwater acoustic communication
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography: U.S. oceanographic research center at UC San Diego with century-long leadership in marine acoustics, ocean observation, and deep-sea sensing. Comparable as a major academic/government-affiliated ocean research institution conducting strategic underwater acoustics and ocean survey programs.
• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: U.S. private non-profit oceanographic research institution, one of the world's leading centers for marine science and underwater acoustics research. Highly comparable as a large, multi-disciplinary marine research organization with deep expertise in underwater acoustic sensing.
• EdgeTech: U.S.-based manufacturer of underwater acoustic imaging and sonar systems for oceanographic, naval, and survey customers. Comparable as a focused supplier of side-scan sonar, synthetic aperture sonar, and sub-bottom profiling sonar used in marine survey and archaeology applications.
• Ultra Electronics: U.K.-based defense electronics specialist with significant sonar and acoustic sensor businesses for naval and maritime security customers. Comparable as a focused supplier of underwater acoustic detection, sonar systems, and related maritime sensing products.
• Sonardyne: U.K.-based underwater acoustic technology company specializing in subsea positioning, sonar imaging, and acoustic communication systems. Comparable as a focused commercial supplier of underwater acoustic systems with overlapping capabilities in subsea sensing and acoustic communication.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Maritime: Norwegian maritime technology company with extensive underwater acoustics and sonar product portfolio for naval, subsea, and offshore customers. Comparable as an established supplier of underwater acoustic instruments, sonars, and ocean-observation systems.
• Thales Group: French multinational defense and digital technology company with a strong underwater systems division (sonars, sonar arrays, naval combat systems). Comparable as a globally established supplier of sonar and underwater acoustic detection systems for naval and security customers.
• L3Harris Technologies: U.S. defense and communications technology company with a major maritime business producing sonar systems, acoustic sensors, and undersea warfare systems. Comparable as a large incumbent defense electronics supplier focused on naval sonar and underwater acoustic detection.
• China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC): Chinese state-owned defense electronics conglomerate with significant underwater acoustic and sonar system capabilities serving naval customers. Comparable as a Chinese state-owned counterpart organization with overlapping strategic focus on underwater acoustic detection and electronic systems.

Others

• Leonardo S.p.A. Italian defense and aerospace conglomerate with major underwater systems business (sonars, torpedo defense, underwater sensors) for naval customers. Comparable as a large incumbent defense electronics supplier with deep underwater acoustic detection capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/%E4%B8%AD%E7%A7%91%E9%99%A2%E5%A3%B0%E5%AD%A6%E6%89%80

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about 中科院声学所