Three Gorges Laboratory

On the morning of July 2, 2026, the Three Gorges Laboratory was inaugurated in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, marking the completion of the final piece in the development of Chongqing's four major laboratories, following Jinfeng, Jialing River and Mingyue Lake.
Co-established by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Three Gorges Laboratory draws on the resources of the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (the Chongqing Institute). Taking ecosystems, carbon neutrality and the circular economy as its key areas of focus, and regional sustainable development as its core mission, the Laboratory focuses on research and translation in three priority areas: Three Gorges ecology and the security of the ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River; metabolism and resource cycling in megacity systems; and frontier green and low-carbon technologies and the integrated development of industry and urban areas.

Chongqing sits at the heart of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area and is the largest riverside city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, with a solid industrial foundation, a sound ecological environment and vast potential for future development. At present, the city is deepening the implementation of the guiding principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches and instructions during his inspection of Chongqing, focusing on substantiating the "two major orientations," giving full play to the "three roles," and continuously amplifying the combined effects of major national strategies such as Western Development and the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The city is accelerating the development of a regional science and technology innovation center in the Chengdu-Chongqing area, advancing the "416" science and technology innovation layout and the "33618" modern manufacturing cluster system in an integrated manner, steadily promoting the comprehensive green transition of economic and social development, resolutely strengthening the important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and striving to write a new chapter of Chinese modernization in Chongqing. It is hoped that the Three Gorges Laboratory will be rooted in Chongqing while serving the whole country, developing into a strategic, hub-based, open and platform-based R&D institution and contributing to further strengthening the important ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, enhancing the momentum of green development and enabling Chongqing to better contribute to the overall development of the country.

At the inauguration ceremony, the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chongqing Academy), and the Three Gorges Laboratory signed multiple cooperation agreements with relevant universities and enterprises to deepen practical cooperation in areas including ecological barrier development, the cultivation of scientific and technological talent, and megacity governance.
In August 2026, the 25th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Sixth Chongqing Municipal People's Congress voted to adopt the Decision of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal People's Congress on the Integrated Advancement of Education, Science and Technology, and Human Resources Development. The Decision explicitly calls for universities, research institutions and enterprises to jointly develop Chongqing laboratories such as the Three Gorges Laboratory, in order to facilitate closer alignment between supply and demand in education, science and technology, and human resources, as well as the smooth flow of resources.

Photo: Three Gorges Laboratory
Text: Compiled from Chongqing Daily reports