Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established in 1964. It is the earliest institute in China specializing in laser science and technology. As a comprehensive high-tech modern optics and laser institute, SIOM mainly focuses on the frontiers of modern optical and laser science, the development of large-scale laser engineering and technology and laser and optoelectronic applications.

SIOM specializes in high-power laser technology, strong field physics, high-intensity optics, information optics, quantum optics, laser and optoelectronic devices, and optical materials, etc. SIOM comprises 14 research units including one national key laboratory, one joint CAS-CAEP laboratory, four CAS key laboratories and one Shanghai municipal key laboratory.

SIOM has over 900 employees including nearly 400 senior researchers. 9 distinguished SIOM scientists have been elected academicians of CAS or the Chinese Academy of Engineering. SIOM currently has 495 students pursuing Ph.D. and master’s degrees.

SIOM has received 47 national level awards and more than 300 provincial level awards for its scientific and technological achievements. Over 200 patents are granted annually. In terms of the number of patent applications it makes, SIOM ranks among the top institutions in China. Every year, more than 600 papers are published. Based on three publication indices for S&T papers (i.e., inclusion in SCI, overseas citations, and publication in domestic journals), SIOM has been ranked in the forefront of Chinese national research institutions for several years.

International cooperation and academic exchange are very important to SIOM. In recent years, SIOM has successfully promoted academic exchange through various fellowship programs. Visiting scholars, scientists and entrepreneurs from over 50 countries/regions, including a number of Nobel laureates and heads of state, have visited SIOM or participated in short-term cooperation at SIOM. Each year, about 200 international visitors come to SIOM and about 100 researchers from SIOM go abroad for international conferences or short-term collaborative research. Due to its great achievements in international cooperation, SIOM was named an International Cooperation Base by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China in 2007.