Lightweight Research Institute

Beijing Machine Science and Technology Innovation Center for Lightweight (BMC Lightweight Research Institute) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the Lightweight Research Institute) was independently registered in 2017 in Huairou Science City, Beijing Science and Technology Innovation Center. Its predecessor was the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Research Center of China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology (a non-independent legal person branch), established in 2006. In 2017, with the approval of China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as the CAM Group), it was renamed as Beijing Machine Science and Technology Innovation Center for Lightweight Co., Ltd. Currently, it is composed of 12 shareholder units with a registered capital of 256.4351 million yuan. The Lightweight Research Institute has 8 R&D entities: the Institute of Material Engineering Technology, the Institute of Equipment Manufacturing Technology, the Light Alloy Forming Business Division, the Institute of Digital Manufacturing Technology, Shandong 3D Printing and Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Service Platform (Weifang Platform), Yantai Branch, Dezhou Branch, and China Machinery New Material Research Institute (Zhengzhou). It hosts the eighth national innovation center among the five major projects of 'Made in China 2025', namely the National Innovation Center for Lightweight Material Forming Technology and Equipment (referred to as the National Innovation Center). It also hosts the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Forming Technology and Equipment (which was among the first batch to pass the Ministry of Science and Technology's acceptance with an 'excellent' assessment), a national technology transfer demonstration institution, a national base for international science and technology cooperation, and the innovation capability platform for 'Precision Plastic Forming Technology and Equipment' under the national major science and technology project—High-end CNC Machine Tools and Basic Manufacturing Equipment (referred to as the 04 Special Project). Its development goal is to gather international high-end talents, establish an integrated innovation ecosystem for lightweight materials, forming processes and equipment design, R&D, testing, inspection, and pilot testing, and become an internationally renowned innovation institution for lightweight materials and forming manufacturing technology and equipment. As of the end of 2021, it had 207 formal employees, including 146 scientific researchers, 35 Ph.D. holders, 96 master's degree holders, 29 research fellows, 32 senior engineers, 2 academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, 1 recipient of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, 5 national-level experts under the 'Ten Thousand Talents Plan' and other national programs, 11 experts enjoying special government allowances, 23 doctoral/master's supervisors, 45 full-time master's and doctoral students, and 10 postdoctoral researchers, with an average age of 35, forming a young and professionally structured scientific research innovation team.