The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences ("CASS") covers research bodies in China consisting of the local academies of social sciences, institutions of higher learning, affiliated research units of government departments, and research units in the armed forces. Currently there are some 100,000 persons engaged in such studies. Established in 1977, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences is the highest academic institution for social sciences in China. The academy conducts creative theoretical exploration and policy study, and shoulders the mission of improving the level of the humanities and social sciences of China. The Academy now has 31 research institutes and 45 research centers. It employs more than 3,200 professional social science researchers, of whom 1,676 are senior researchers.

The State Natural Science Foundation Committee was established in February 1986, with the approval of the State Council. Its task is to render assistance to basic research projects and some applied research projects with funds allocated from the state treasury, in line with the state's guiding principles for the development of science and technology. In the past decade and more, the Committee has subsidized more than 52,000 research projects with 6.6 billion yuan, providing steady support to some 60,000 scientific and technological personnel in basic research work.