Chinese Academy of Sciences Announces Structural Reorganization, Phasing Out Changchun and Nanjing Branches

China’s Academy of Sciences (CAS) has introduced a fresh round of organizational updates, according to the latest changes published in the “Organizational Structure” section of its official website. The adjustments cover both headquarters-level departments and the regional branch system.

Updated CAS Headquarters Structure

The CAS headquarters now comprises the following offices and departments: the General Office; the Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation Development; the Bureau of Basic Science Research; the Bureau of Strategic High-Tech Research; the Bureau of Major Special Projects; the Bureau of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development; the Bureau of Science and Technology Infrastructure and Capacity Building; the Bureau of Academic Divisions Affairs; the Bureau of Talent and Human Resources; the Bureau of International Cooperation; the Bureau of Finance and Asset Management; the Bureau of Audit and Supervision (including the Office of the Party Leadership Group’s Inspection Work Leading Group); the Party Committee of CAS Headquarters; and the Bureau of Services for Senior Experts and Retired Cadres.

Previous CAS Headquarters Structure

Before the update, CAS headquarters departments included: the General Office; the Bureau of Academic Divisions Affairs; the Bureau of Frontier Sciences and Basic Research; the Bureau of Major Science and Technology Tasks; the Bureau of Sustainable Development Research; the Bureau of Science and Technology Infrastructure and Capacity Building; the Bureau of Development Planning; the Bureau of Finance and Asset Management; the Bureau of Human Resources; the Party Committee of CAS Headquarters; the Bureau of International Cooperation; the Bureau of Supervision and Audit (including the Office of the Party Leadership Group’s Inspection Work Leading Group); and the Office for Retired Cadres.

CAS’s website updates indicate that several new entities have been established or reorganized, including the Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation Development, the Bureau of Basic Science Research, the Bureau of Strategic High-Tech Research, the Bureau of Major Special Projects, and the Bureau of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.

Personnel Appointments Reflect Newly Established Units

Earlier, on December 30, 2025, the Bureau of Talent and Human Resources released a Party Leadership Group notice on personnel appointments and removals, which revealed multiple staffing changes tied to the newly adjusted headquarters structure.

According to the notice, Wen Ya was appointed Director of the Bureau of Science, Technology and Innovation Development (concurrently). Tao Zongbao and Feng Guoxing were appointed Deputy Directors of the same bureau, while Huang Yanqiang also became Deputy Director (concurrently, term through January 2026).

Wei Zhixiang was appointed Director of the Bureau of Basic Science Research (on a trial basis through April 2026). Shen Yi and Li Yuhui were appointed Deputy Directors, and Wang Meng was appointed Deputy Director (concurrently, term through January 2026).

Zhu Junqiang was appointed Director of the Bureau of Strategic High-Tech Research. Wang Wenwu, Wang Yu, and Yang Zhen were appointed Deputy Directors, while Chen Liang was appointed Deputy Director (concurrently, term through January 2026).

Xue Qiang was appointed Director of the Bureau of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development. Wei Yong and Xu Hang were appointed Deputy Directors, while Zhou Xi was appointed Deputy Director (concurrently, term through January 2026).

For the Bureau of Talent and Human Resources, Cai Chenxi, Cai Hongzhi, and Liu Guangyi were appointed Deputy Directors, and Li Yuan was appointed Deputy Director (on a trial basis through April 2026).

Bi Jinchun was appointed Director of the Bureau of Audit and Supervision, with Cao Ning and Zhai Jinliang appointed as Deputy Directors.

Shen Hua was appointed Director of the Bureau of Services for Senior Experts and Retired Cadres, and Guan Bing and Gong Liwu were appointed as Deputy Directors.

The notice also stated that any prior roles held by these officials within the former internal divisions of CAS headquarters would be naturally dissolved following the restructuring.

Regional Branch System Streamlined

Alongside the headquarters adjustments, CAS has also streamlined its regional branch system, with the Changchun and Nanjing branches no longer listed as separate entities.

A related example appears on the Shanghai Branch’s official introduction, which explains that the Shanghai Branch is a CAS dispatched body responsible for coordinating and managing CAS institutes across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi. In October 2025, the CAS Nanjing Branch was no longer retained and was merged into the Shanghai Branch.

Current List of CAS Regional Branches

According to the CAS website’s current “Organizational Structure” listing, the regional branches now include: Shenyang Branch, Shanghai Branch, Wuhan Branch, Guangzhou Branch, Chengdu Branch, Kunming Branch, Xi’an Branch, Lanzhou Branch, and Xinjiang Branch.