INSTITUTE OF URBAN ENVIRONMENT, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

Their core work

The Institute of Urban Environment (IUE) is a research center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences focused on urban ecology, green infrastructure, and nature-based solutions for cities. Their H2020 work centers on understanding how urban agriculture, urban forestry, and soil regeneration can transform post-industrial landscapes — with a particular bridge between European and Chinese urban contexts. They also contribute atmospheric science expertise, specifically marine aerosol chemistry and analytical measurement techniques.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 involvement (2016-2018) combined marine atmospheric science with hands-on urban regeneration — green infrastructure, urban agriculture, urban forestry, and soil restoration in post-industrial settings. By 2019, the focus sharpened toward nature-based solutions and ecosystem services at the city scale, plus organic waste recovery — a shift from ground-level urban greening toward systemic urban sustainability frameworks connecting European and Chinese cities.

Moving from practical urban greening interventions toward broader nature-based solutions frameworks, positioning themselves as a key Chinese partner for Europe-China urban sustainability research.

How they like to work

IUE exclusively joins projects as a participant or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 82 unique consortium partners across 19 countries from just 4 projects, they consistently work in large international consortia. This suggests they serve as the go-to Chinese urban research partner that European coordinators invite when they need credible China-side expertise and field sites.

Despite only 4 projects, IUE has built connections with 82 partners across 19 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by participation in large Innovation Action and Research & Innovation Action consortia. Their geographic footprint bridges Europe and China, making them a connector between the two research ecosystems.

What sets them apart

IUE's distinct value is as a China-based urban environment research institute embedded in European consortia — a rare bridge for EU projects needing Chinese city data, field sites, and policy context. As part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, they carry institutional weight and access to Chinese urban research infrastructure that few European partners can replicate. For any consortium targeting Europe-China comparative urban studies, they are a natural and credible choice.

Highlights from their portfolio

• REGREEN
  Explicitly designed as an EU-China collaboration on nature-based solutions for urban transitions, directly matching IUE's core mission and geographic bridging role.
• proGIreg
  Large-scale Innovation Action on productive green infrastructure covering urban agriculture, forestry, and soil regeneration in post-industrial cities — rich keyword coverage shows deep involvement.