China Electronics Technology Group Corporation No. 16 Research Institute
The 16th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, also known as the "Hefei Institute of Low-Temperature Electronics," is a first-class national defense research institute. Founded in 1966 in Lueyang, Shaanxi Province, under the visionary guidance of pioneering scientists like Qian Xuesen, the institute was relocated entirely to Hefei in 1985. Today, it employs over 700 staff members and occupies a campus spanning 127 mu. The institute specializes in cutting-edge R&D and manufacturing across key areas such as refrigeration and thermal management, superconductivity, and low-temperature electronics. It stands as the nation’s sole institution dedicated exclusively to the engineering application of low-temperature electronic technologies, making significant contributions to China’s national defense infrastructure. Since its establishment, the 16th Research Institute has earned 138 science and technology awards at or above the provincial and ministerial levels, along with 280 authorized patents. Many of its groundbreaking achievements have filled critical domestic gaps, including the development of China’s first split-type Stirling cooler, the country’s first S/X-band cryogenic receiver, the first gas-bearing high-capacity Stirling cooler, the first membrane-based industrial helium recycling system, and the nation’s first 30W and 100W gas-bearing Stirling generators. Its innovative products and technologies serve both defense and civilian sectors. For instance, Stirling coolers power a wide range of optoelectronic systems, while superconducting and cryogenic receivers have been integral to major national projects such as the Chang'e lunar exploration program, Mars missions, and deep-space exploration initiatives, as well as advanced radar systems. Meanwhile, its thermal control and management solutions are widely used in radar systems, communications equipment, and various military and civilian applications. In addition, the institute’s microwave and millimeter-wave devices play a crucial role in diverse radar, communication, and countermeasures systems. On the civilian front, its products are extensively applied in data center construction, smart industries, semiconductor integrated circuit manufacturing, large-scale scientific projects, and specialized gas-processing fields. To further bolster its innovation capabilities, the institute boasts several prestigious scientific platforms, including the Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory for Low-Temperature Technology, the China Electronics Technology Group’s Low-Temperature Electronics R&D Center, the Anhui Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Thermal Management Technology, and the Anhui Provincial Postdoctoral Research Workstation—making it one of the first "New-Type R&D Institutions" recognized by Anhui Province. Staying true to its original aspirations and mission, the 16th Research Institute looks back on its storied history of supporting China’s third-front construction and upholding the vital mission of low-temperature innovation. Today, it remains firmly committed to advancing the nation’s technological prowess, embracing the responsibility of "creating optimal temperature environments and pioneering cutting-edge superconducting electronic products." Driven by modern corporate governance reforms, the institute is focused on strengthening its core competencies, accelerating comprehensive institutional upgrades, and striving relentlessly toward becoming a world-class enterprise with global competitiveness.
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