Institute of Computing Technology

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The Institute of Computing Technology (ICT) is a research institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. Founded in 1956, it was China’s first dedicated computer research center and helped develop the first general‑purpose digital computers in the country. It later gave rise to important programs and companies, including the Institute of Software, Lenovo, Dawning, Loongson and Cambricon.

ICT began in a room at Xiyuan Hotel and moved to Zhongguancun in 1958. It built China’s first general‑purpose digital computer, the 103. In the 1960s, despite the Sino‑Soviet split, ICT continued to advance and produced China’s first self‑developed large digital computer, the 119, which supported the country’s early nuclear weapons program. By 1972 the institute had about 1,000 employees and ten labs, and it built the 48‑bit Model 111 with Chinese‑made integrated circuits. In 1976, the 013 computer debuted with a 48‑bit design and a Chinese compiler, running FORTRAN and a full operating system. ICT is also the birthplace of China’s first general‑purpose CPU chip and remains a leading base for high‑performance computing.

Today ICT conducts research in microprocessors, computer systems, networks, data science and artificial intelligence. It hosts national laboratories and centers, publishes key journals, and oversees the School of Computer Science of the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, offering undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs. Since 1960 ICT has trained more than 6,000 graduates. The institute is located at 6 Kexueyuan Nanlu, Zhongguancun, Haidian, Beijing, China. Email ictoffice@ict.ac.cn.