The Institute of Mechanics (IMECH), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), is the first national institution for mechanics research in China. It is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary national mechanics research center built on the conception of engineering science by Professor Qian Xuesen (Hsue-Shen Tsien). Through the steadfast efforts of several generations of scientists, the Institute enjoys international prestige in the mechanics community. It also makes important contributions to the economic and social development of China.

At present, major research fields of IMECH include micro-scale mechanics and trans-scale correlation, high-temperature gas dynamics and trans-atmosphere flight, microgravity science and its applications, key mechanical problems in oceanic engineering, environment, energy and transportation, mechanics in advanced manufacturing, biomechanics and bioengineering, etc.

IMECH has five physical laboratories: State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics (LNM), State Key Laboratory of High Temperature Gas Dynamics (LHD), National Microgravity Laboratory (NML), Key Laboratory for Mechanics in Fluid Solid Coupling Systems Chinese Academy of Sciences (LMFS), and Wide range Flight Engineering Science and Applications Center (WESA).

Since its establishment, IMECH has accomplished numerous significant research projects and obtained many remarkable scientific and technological achievements. The Institute has received over 230 national and regional awards, including one State Preeminent Science and Technology Award of China, 37 National Science and Technology Awards, as well as 24 awards from CAS and the ministries.

IMECH has built valuable academic connections and partnerships with research establishments in 41 nations. Through international cooperation, the Institute has been able to utilize global resources to educate upcoming scientists, attract elite professionals, and enhance innovation capabilities. This underpins significant research progress and boosts the Institute's global academic reputation. The Beijing International Center for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, situated in IMECH and supported by the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (CSTAM), was acknowledged by the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) as its affiliated organization in September 2010. It's the only center for worldwide mechanics in the Asia-Pacific region.

Over its 60 years of development, the Institute has achieved gratifying results in promoting the forefront of mechanical research, serving national strategic goals, and developing high-tech industries. It has also cultivated and provided a large number of outstanding scientific and technological talent. In this way, it has made prominent contributions to the development of science and technology in China.

Looking forward to the future, the Institute will persist in the conception of engineering science and focus on the key common technological and scientific problems faced by the major tasks of China to promote the deep interconnection of mechanics and other relevant disciplines and drive the integration of original innovation, system integration, platform construction, and personnel training. It will stride forward to build a world-renowned research and education center for engineering science.