Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

What Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences does

The Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (IUE) is a national research institute founded in 2006 and co-established by CAS and the Xiamen municipal government, headquartered at 1799 Jimei Road in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China. It operates seven research divisions spanning urban environment and health, environmental biotechnology, the Environmental Micro-interface Probe Platform, the Atmospheric Superstation, and environmental pollution control. IUE serves the academic and research community, national and local government agencies, and international scientific organizations by producing scientific evidence for environmental policy, hosting graduate education (440 students and 110+ postdocs), and convening international scientific exchange.

The institute's outputs are academic rather than commercial: 2,100+ SCI publications, 12 national awards, 10 patents, and administration of two Scopus-indexed journals (Soil Ecology Letters; Watershed Ecology and the Environment). It hosts the International Programme Office of the ISC Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme and maintains mutual partnerships with UN-Habitat, UNEP, ANSO, NUS, UEA, Yale, Oxford, Princeton, CSIRO, and more than 20 other international universities and organizations, including a Joint Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health with Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

IUE is funded almost entirely through government research grants, including National Key R&D Programs, CAS strategic leading projects, and provincial/municipal science and technology cooperation funds; it operates no commercial pricing model. Its go-to-market is community-led, centered on academic collaboration, international conferences and workshops, and training courses such as the Belt and Road Sustainable Development and Environmental Health program. Limited applied-research technology transfer occurs through named industry partners (e.g., Fujian Longyuan Environmental Engineering; Yonker Environmental Protection; Zhongke Dingshi) and government framework agreements (e.g., Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Ecological Environment).

Name

Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Legal name

Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Website

https://english.iue.cas.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

IUE is a CAS national research institute in Xiamen, China, founded in 2006, conducting urban environment, health, and pollution-control research for government, academic, and international science-policy audiences through seven research divisions, Scopus-indexed journals, and the ISC Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme Office.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Urban environmental research
• Environmental health studies
• Pollution control research
• Scientific research institute
• Environmental biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Xiamen

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Research Funding: As a Chinese Academy of Sciences research institute, IUE receives government funding for scientific research projects, including National Key R&D Programs, CAS strategic leading projects, and provincial/municipal science and technology cooperation projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences is a national research institute that conducts scientific research on urban environment, environmental health, environmental biotechnology, and pollution control. It operates research laboratories and platforms, provides graduate education (doctoral and master's programs), hosts international scientific conferences and training courses, and publishes peer-reviewed academic journals.

Product overview

The Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IUE, CAS) is a national research institute focused on urban environmental science and technology. Rather than offering commercial products, IUE conducts research across urban environment and health, environmental biotechnology, atmospheric science, and related fields. The institute provides educational programs including doctoral and master's degrees, hosts international conferences and training courses (such as Belt and Road training programs), and publishes academic journals including Soil Ecology Letters and Watershed Ecology and the Environment. IUE also operates the ISC-Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme Office and manages various research laboratories and facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soil Ecology Letters A peer-reviewed academic journal administered by IUE, jointly published by Higher Education Press of China and Springer, focusing on soil ecology research. The journal was indexed in Scopus in 2021.
• Watershed Ecology and the Environment An academic journal whose editorial board is hosted at the CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health at IUE, covering watershed ecology and environmental research.
• Graduate Education Programs (Doctoral and Master's Degrees) Graduate-level degree programs in urban environmental science and related fields, enrolling 440 students, including international master's programs under the Belt and Road Environmental Science and Technology framework.
• International Training Courses (Belt and Road) International training programs including the Belt and Road Training Course of Sustainable Development and Environmental Health, and Low Carbon Conversion Technologies training, designed for international researchers and professionals.
• Urban Environment Scientific Research Services Scientific research and consulting services covering urban environment and health, environmental pollution control, and sustainable urban development, delivered to government agencies and industry partners through framework agreements and joint research projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2100+ SCI papers published
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2021Co-organized International Workshop on the Environmental Dimension of Antimicrobial Resistance with UNEP. Workshop raised global awareness of antibiotic resistance.
• Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 November 2021Co-organized International Workshop on Antimicrobial Resistance and Belt and Road training courses with ANSO. Supported by ANSO Collaborative Research and Fujian Belt and Road Environmental Health Joint Lab.
• Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2021IUE and Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme Office held International Conference on Cities under COVID-19. IUE hosts the International Programme Office of ISC-Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme.
• Belt and Road Alliance of Urban Environmental HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 September 2020First Online Meeting of the Belt and Road Alliance of Urban Environmental Health under ANSO successfully held. Includes cooperation with Malaysia Biomass Industries Confederation and Kasetsart University.
• Young Japanese Scientists DelegationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 25 October 2019Young Japanese scientists visited IUE to deepen exchange and cooperation between IUE and Japanese scientific research institutions. Discussion on wider range of cooperation fields and systems.
• United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2019MoU signed for implementing urban and territorial planning for improved health and wellbeing in urban areas. ISC and IUE to execute work programme under the newly signed MOU with UN Habitat.
• Ministry of Education of Kenya and Sino-Africa Joint Research CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2019Delegations from Kenya visited IUE to discuss water security cooperation and reached agreement to carry out further cooperation in project application, joint postgraduate training and exchange visits of scientific researchers.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2018Prof. Yongguan Zhu representing IUE signed memorandum of cooperation with NUS for promoting common development in research of the environment. The cooperation includes joint symposiums on Sustainable Urban Environment Development and project cooperation in environmental science and technology research.
• University of East Anglia (UEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 September 2016Cooperation workshop held between IUE and UEA following MoU signature. Discussed joint research proposals and graduate student exchanges.
• University of East Anglia (UEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 April 2016Signed memorandum of understanding for cooperation in five areas: urbanization ecological footprint and global climate change, air pollution, urban water quality security, environmental biotechnology and urban geochemistry. Includes joint training of graduate students and young talents.
• International Council for Science (ICSU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2013ICSU experts visited IUE for site visit of establishment of International Programme office. IUE regarded as ideal choice for hosting IPO.
• Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2010Prof. Yongguan Zhu led delegation to unveil Joint Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health jointly established by both sides.
• French National Science Research CenterminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 October 2009Sino-French Workshop on Urban Environment & Sustainable Development held. Memo signed about cooperation in ecology and environment between the two countries.
• Trier University (IfaS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 September 2009Memo signed with IfaS for joint training programme of postgraduates, researchers' communication and exchange, and environmental technology cooperation.
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2009Four HK PolyU professors appointed as researchers of IUE. Joint lab of urban environment and health established, pushing science and technology cooperation with Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.
• United Nations UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009International organization partnership listed in official partnership page.
• The Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (CEH)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009UK research institution partnership listed in official partnership page.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009US university partnership listed in official partnership page with active academic exchanges including Prof. David Y.H. Pui visit.
• Purdue UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009US university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• Lancaster UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009UK university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• University of AberdeenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009UK university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• City University of Hong KongminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Hong Kong university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• Taiwan Association of Soil and Groundwater Environmental ProtectionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2009Taiwan association partnership listed in official partnership page.
• The University of AdelaideminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Australian university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Australian national science agency partnership listed in official partnership page. CAS-CSIRO Nanotechnology and New Materials for Energy Workshop held.
• University of CopenhagenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Danish university partnership listed in official partnership page.
• Yale UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009US Ivy League university partnership. CAS-Yale Workshop held in 2018.
• University of OxfordminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009UK Ivy League university partnership listed in official partnership page.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Nanjing University School of Environment: Long-established Chinese university environment school with strength in atmospheric pollution and urban environment science; analogous research scope and graduate training programs.
• Tsinghua University School of Environment: Top Chinese university environment school with much broader scale and degree pipeline; comparable in urban environment research and policy influence but operates as an academic department rather than a standalone research institute.
• Fudan University Department of Environmental Science and Engineering: Tier-1 Chinese university program focused on urban environmental science and pollution control; comparable in advanced training and SCI publication profile.
• Tongji University College of Environmental Science and Engineering: Strong Chinese environmental engineering and urban pollution research program; comparable in research output and in producing SCI publications on urban environment.
• Peking University College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering: Major Chinese university environment program with overlapping urban environment, atmospheric, and health research themes; competes with IUE for top graduate students and highly cited researchers.

Direct peers

• Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES): National environmental research arm under China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, operating with similar applied urban/regional pollution mandate and a comparable government-funded research model.
• Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences (RCEES), CAS: Sister CAS institute in Beijing covering broader eco-environmental research; most direct institutional peer to IUE given shared CAS parentage, applied environmental science portfolio, and graduate training programs.
• South China Institute of Environmental Sciences (SCIES): MEE-affiliated institute headquartered in Guangzhou; comparable geographic focus on South China urban/industrial pollution and a similar mix of applied research plus policy advisory work.
• Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP), CAS: CAS institute whose atmospheric physics remit closely overlaps IUE's Atmospheric Superstation and air-pollution research; offers a like-for-like peer for talent, funding cycles, and scientific prestige comparisons.

Regional players

• National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan: Japan's primary national environmental research institute under the Ministry of the Environment; functionally similar national-laboratory-style applied research mandate in atmospheric and urban pollution, but based in Japan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institute of Urban Environment of the Chinese Academy of Sciences