The Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (hereinafter referred to as "SIMIT"), formerly known as the Shanghai Institute of Metallurgy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has its predecessor as the Institute of Engineering, National Academy of Sciences, founded in 1928, making it one of China’s earliest comprehensive research institutions in engineering. In 2001, the institute completed a major strategic transformation, focusing on the field of microelectronics and information technology, and was officially renamed from the "Shanghai Institute of Metallurgy" to the "Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology", a name that has been in use ever since.
Its academic disciplines cover Electronic Science and Technology and Information and Communication Engineering, with major research fields including integrated circuit materials and devices, superconducting electronics, micro-nano sensing technologies and devices, broadband wireless communication technologies, intelligent microsystem technologies, among others.
SIMIT has over 761 employees including 694 scientific and technical personnel. 2 distinguished SIMIT scientists have been elected academicians of CAS. There are 703 graduate students and 75 postdoctoral researchers at the institute.
SIMIT has received 46 national awards and more than 340 provincial level awards.The institute took lead in successfully developing nodular cast iron in China, and solved the smelting of high-fluorine iron ore in Baotou and the recovery of rare earth elements. It developed the key component for uranium‑235 enrichment, the Type A separation membrane, for which it was awarded the Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Medal. SIMIT also developed China’s first high-speed and ultra-high-speed bipolar digital integrated circuits. Based on microelectronic technologies, the institute carried out research on micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and SOI materials, as well as research on wireless sensor networks and new-generation mobile communication technologies.
SIMIT has three national key laboratories focusing on integrated circuit materials, sensor technology, and heterogeneous integrated microsystems. It also consists of nine research units, namely the Laboratory of Sensor Technology, Laboratory of Nanomaterials and Devices, Terahertz Solid-State Technology Laboratory, Microsystem Technology Laboratory, Broadband Wireless Communication Laboratory, Silicon-Based Materials and Integrated Devices Laboratory, Superconducting Electronics Laboratory, Bionic Vision System Laboratory, and X-Lab Frontier Laboratory, as well as a university-level public technology center.
SIMIT has made significant contributions to national economic development, national security and social progress.