Harbin Institute of Technology

1.State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems originates

State Key Laboratory of Robotics and Systems originates from the Robotics Institute of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), established in 1986 as one of the earliest institutions in China to conduct research in robotics. The laboratory is jointly supported by several first-level disciplines, including Mechanical Engineering (A+, “Double First-Class”), Control Science and Engineering (A+, “Double First-Class”), Computer Science and Technology (A, “Double First-Class”), and Electrical Engineering (A−).

The laboratory consistently adheres to the Four Orientations principle, conducting strategic, cutting-edge, and original basic and applied research in advanced robotics. It focuses on scientific challenges and core technologies related to robotic mechanisms, perception, autonomy, interaction, and integration. Aiming to establish a national technological framework for independent innovation in robotics and to build a global high ground in high-end robotic science and technology, the laboratory is dedicated to developing theoretical foundations for robot design and control under extreme environmental conditions, advancing the frontiers of cutting-edge robotics technologies, supporting the implementation of major national engineering projects, and fostering high-caliber, globally competitive talent to strengthen China’s global influence in robotics. Its primary research directions include robotic design methodologies and enabling technologies, intelligent perception and behavior control, human-robot interaction and collaborative operations, and the integration and application of innovative robotic systems. The laboratory has made breakthroughs in several core and critical technologies, achieving a series of landmark scientific and technological achievements in the field of robotics, which have been applied to major national projects such as China’s manned spaceflight and lunar exploration programs, deep space exploration, and on-orbit servicing missions. It stands as a pivotal scientific and technological force driving advancements in the manufacturing field of China.

2.State Key Laboratory of Precision Welding & Joining of Materials and Structures

State Key Laboratory of Precision Welding & Joining of Materials and Structures.In response to the major national strategic needs in aerospace, aviation, maritime engineering, nuclear power, and other fields, the State Key Laboratory of Precision Welding & Joining of Materials and Structures has been jointly established. It is based on the former State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT), and co-founded with AVIC Shenyang Liming Aero-Engine Co., Ltd., Bohai Shipbuilding Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. of China State Shipbuilding Corporation, and Capital Aerospace Machinery Co., Ltd. of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.

The Laboratory is derived from the Welding Technology and Engineering major at HIT—the first undergraduate program in welding established in Chinese universities. It is renowned as “the cradle of welding in China and the Huangpu Military Academy of the welding industry”. Relying on the first-level discipline of Materials Science and Engineering, the Laboratory upholds HIT’s school motto of “Strict Standards and Solid Foundation” and its own philosophy of “Advocating Innovation and Promoting Pragmatism”. Each year, it cultivates over 200 master’s students and more than 50 doctoral students, ranking among the top universities in China in terms of talent cultivation scale in related fields. To date, it has trained and delivered nearly 10,000 graduates, including a large number of innovative and high-caliber talents in the welding field—such as academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences/Engineering, recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, national high-level talents, presidents of welding societies, and winners of the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize and the China Youth Science and Technology Award. It has also provided over 200 chief engineers to enterprises, solidifying its position as a talent hub and a research palace in the welding field.

The Laboratory has always adhered to addressing national strategic needs and frontier scientific and technological issues, conducting fundamental, forward-looking, strategic, and systematic innovative research. It has played a crucial role in national defense fields (including aerospace, aviation, maritime engineering, and nuclear power) as well as in national economic development. Aligning with the development trends of the Materials Science and Engineering discipline and leveraging its own strengths and characteristics, the Laboratory has formed 4 distinct, interdisciplinary research directions:Joining of new materials and dissimilar materials;High-efficiency, intelligent welding and welding in extreme environments;Joining and reliability of complex structures;Micro-nano joining and processing

Over the years, the Laboratory has focused on major scientific issues and core key technologies in the field of precision welding and joining of material structures. It has solved several major problems that restricted the technological development of China’s material joining field and achieved a series of landmark scientific and technological achievements. These achievements have provided core welding technologies and equipment for China’s “major national initiatives”—including manned spaceflight, domestic aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, large civil aircraft, aero-engines, superconducting accelerators, third-generation nuclear power technology, rail transit, and integrated circuits. Today, the Laboratory has become a leading center for scientific and technological innovation and a base for cultivating top innovative talents in China’s material welding and joining discipline.

3.State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment

Urban-rural integration is an inevitable requirement for Chinese-style modernization and serves as the cornerstone of the Beautiful China strategy.

Addressing major national needs and advancing international technological frontiers, the State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource and Environment was restructured in 2025 under the affiliation of Harbin Institute of Technology, in collaboration with China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Co., Ltd. Its predecessor was the State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Water Environment, established in 2007. The laboratory has garnered over 30 national awards, led more than 100 major national projects, and facilitated the application of its achievements across China’s ten major river basins, driving sustainable development of urban and rural water systems.

The laboratory has assembled China’s highest-level research team in the field of urban-rural water systems. It comprises over 150 fixed researchers, including 4 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and 29 national high-level talents. The team operates from a 25,000 m² standalone building, equipped with instruments and assets valued at over 200 million yuan.

The laboratory has established a green, low-carbon, and smart theoretical framework for urban-rural water systems. It has proposed a comprehensive, resilient, and low-carbon urban-rural water system framework; developed a full-process water quality assurance system from source to tap; formulated a blue-green-gray integrated sponge city development strategy; and created an intelligent water management system integrating source-plant-network-river components.

The laboratory has pioneered systematic and efficient technological solutions for urban-rural water systems. It introduced a sewage bio-hydrogen production technology system, overcoming the bottleneck in energy recovery from wastewater; constructed a technology system for enhanced removal of micropollutants in drinking water, supporting comprehensive water quality improvement; and established an integrated treatment technology system for low-temperature conditions in cold regions, addressing challenges in cold region water environment remediation.

The laboratory serves as a pioneer and leader in the fields of cold region environment and urban-rural water systems. It is the only team in China achieving remarkable outcomes in cold region and urban-rural water domains, playing an irreplaceable role.

Looking ahead, the laboratory will continue to support the national carbon peak and carbon neutrality strategies, striving to become a world-class hub for original innovations in water science and technology and a leading industrial alliance center in the sector.

4.State Key Laboratory of Smart Farm Technologies and Systems

State Key Laboratory of Smart Farm Technologies and Systems focuses on the significant demands in the field of smart agriculture, addressing key issues in digital growth, autonomous operations, and intelligent management. The goal is to create smart farm technologies and systems that are precise in planting, require fewer personnel, and are easy to replicate. The laboratory is jointly established by Beidahuang Agricultural Reclamation Group, Harbin Institute of Technology, and Northeast Agricultural University. Research is conducted in four directions: crop modeling, precise sensing and control, intelligent equipment, and large-scale application. Based on research directions and resources for scientific research transformation, six research centers are established, including the Center for Digital Intelligence Basic Research, Center for Crop Modeling Research, and Center for Agricultural Environment Research.

5.State Key Laboratory of Space Power Sources

The State Key Laboratory of Space Power Sources (formerly the State Key Laboratory of Space Power Technology) was approved for restructuring and integration in March 2023. It was jointly founded by the Shanghai Institute of Space Power Sources (under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) and the Harbin Institute of Technology. The laboratory is the only national key facility in the energy domain focused solely on fundamental research and technological innovation for space power applications. Its technological output directly benefits major national space initiatives. The institution maintains close alignment with both China's space missions and the critical need for rapid development in space power technology, driving research into fundamental and key common technologies while diversifying its contributions to the renewable energy industry.

6.State Key Laboratory of  Low-carbon Thermal Power Generation Technologies and Equipment

The laboratory is dedicated to applied fundamental research on low-carbon thermal power generation technologies and equipment. It focuses on addressing major scientific and technological challenges within the coal-fired power generation field, including flexibility, low-carbon emissions, cleanliness, digitalization, and integration with renewable energy sources. Its mission is to establish a comprehensive system for the design and manufacturing of key equipment, thereby building a fully integrated innovation chain that connects industry, education, and research in low-carbon thermal power generation technology and equipment. By advancing fundamental research, core technologies, and equipment innovation, the laboratory aims to develop into a world-class platform with a leading research team. Its ultimate goal is to become a top-tier global hub for original innovation and a source of cutting-edge technology in low-carbon thermal power generation.

7.State Key Laboratory of Hydropower Equipment

The State Key Laboratory of Hydropower Equipment is supported by Harbin Electric Machinery Co., Ltd., Harbin Institute of Technology, and Harbin Engineering University, operating under an integrated model of “Industry, Education, Research, and Application”. The laboratory is led by Director Qin Daqing, with Academician Chen Shiyi serving as the Chair of the Academic Committee. It employs a permanent staff of 209, including 56 full Professors, 125 associate senior professionals, 20 National-level High-level Talents, and several provincial-level talent teams. The laboratory occupies an area of 38,200 square meters and comprises 8 research offices (centers). It is equipped with more than 3,000 instruments and devices, with a total value of 580 million yuan, and houses 8 world-class precision hydraulic test rigs.

Its research focuses on the efficient utilization of hydropower, related equipment, and pumped storage technology. The laboratory has undertaken more than 400 major scientific research tasks, secured 191 national invention patents, and received 7 National Science and Technology Awards. Its achievements have been applied in major projects such as the Baihetan Hydropower Station, establishing the laboratory as a “pioneer” in global hydropower technology innovation.

8.State Key Laboratory of Advanced Inorganic Fibers and Composites

State Key Laboratory of Advanced Inorganic Fibers and Composites was approved in 2024 after being reorganized. The fundamental research center established in Harbin Institute of Technology focuses on international frontier, national security, manufacturing power, and carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. According to key research areas of the laboratory, the research center conducts original frontier fundamental research and applied fundamental research on artificial intelligence-enabled molecule design of high-performance polymer and novel macromolecule, multi-scale intelligent control of materials, design and synthesis of sustainable polymer, and adaptive composites in extreme conditions. The aim is to build a world-class national science and technology innovation center of advanced fiber-reinforced composites.