The Xinjiang Branch of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) was established on July 30, 1957. As the only branch set up by CAS in an autonomous region of minority nationalities, it was initially positioned to serve the economic, social, and technological development of Xinjiang. With the care and attention of the Communist Party of China, the CAS Party Group, and the regional Party Committee, and after half a century of pioneering efforts and innovation, it has now become an important comprehensive scientific research base and a training base for high-level talent in the region. It has provided strong technological support for prosperous development of Xinjiang.

The Xinjiang Branch system includes four independent legal entities: the Xinjiang Branch headquarter, the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, the Xinjiang Institute of Physics and Chemistry, and the Xinjiang Observatory. The system currently has two national key laboratories (including those under development), 11 regional key laboratories, one national engineering research center, one national engineering technology research center, five regional engineering technology research centers, two national science popularization education bases, two overseas research bases, and 34 field stations (including three national-level, two CAS-level, and 18 overseas stations). Focusing on the CAS "Pioneering Action" plan and adapting to Xinjiang's context, the branch has continuously refined and enhanced its technological innovation goals, forming twelve distinctive research fields and directions: oasis ecology and oasis agriculture, desert environment and ecological restoration, biodiversity in arid regions, metallogeny in Central Asia, natural resources and ecological environment in Central Asia; resource chemistry, material physics and chemistry, multilingual information technology, environmental engineering and technology; radio astronomy and technology, optical astronomy and technological applications, and applied astronomy.

The Xinjiang Branch actively leverages its resource advantages and continually explores new models of integration between science, education, and technology. It has trained and cultivated a large number of high-quality, practical, interdisciplinary, innovative, and entrepreneurial talents. The branch currently has six postdoctoral research stations, 15 doctoral degree programs, and 23 master’s degree programs. There are 860 graduate students enrolled, including 479 doctoral students and 381 master’s students. It has 7 first-level disciplines and 24 second-level disciplines.

The Xinjiang Branch places great emphasis on cooperation with local entities. It has established multi-level, wide-ranging, and comprehensive technological cooperation relationships in six areas: strengthening strategic research and improving decision-making levels; co-building research and development platforms to enhance regional innovation capacity; applying high-tech to promote the construction of a modern industrial system; improving the ecological environment to promote agricultural modernization; strengthening talent cultivation and facilitating personnel exchanges; and enhancing science popularization to implement the National Science and Technology Literacy Action Plan. These efforts have enriched the content of campus cooperation, expanded cooperation areas, and provided strong technological support for Xinjiang’s industrial development and economic growth.

In response to new situations, requirements, and journeys, the Xinjiang Branch focuses on its primary responsibilities, implements these directives rigorously, and guides all staff to act as "national teams" with a commitment to "national affairs" and responsibility for "national tasks."