In January 2023, with the approval of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the establishment of the State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry was initiated at the University of Science and Technology of China. In December 2024, the laboratory was officially approved for inclusion in the sequence of national key laboratories for construction.

The State Key Laboratory of Precision and Intelligent Chemistry is oriented toward the frontiers of global science and technology, focusing on the fundamental challenge of transforming the paradigm of chemical research. Addressing the traditional dependence of chemistry on the “trial-and-error” approach, the laboratory seeks to establish a dual-drive model of precision and intelligence in chemical research. Combining the existing foundations and development trends, it has formed four major directions: the theory of complex chemical systems, accurate characterization of chemical processes, data-driven intelligent chemistry, and precise modulation of reaction pathways and material properties.

The laboratory is committed to developing fundamental theories, underlying algorithms, and efficient parallel computing software for complex chemical processes and material systems; advancing new in-situ and dynamic characterization techniques under multiple domains of time, space, and energy; building a AI scientist platform with proprietary operating systems and a high level of intelligence; and leading the establishment of international standards for intelligent chemistry software and hardware. Through these efforts, the laboratory aims to drive a paradigm shift toward data-driven chemical research.