The Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences (SIBS) has been established in 1999 through structural reorganization and institutional innovation of 8 former CAS biological institutes, and thus has a history of over 50 years in academic tradition and scientific research, with landmark achievements in the history of life sciences such as: (a) the world first synthetic Crystalline Bovine Insulin with relatively high activity, (b) the total synthesis of Yeast Alanine Transfer Ribonucleic Acid with the same natural chemical structure and complete biology activity, (c) the discovery of China's first internationally recognized innovative anti-malaria drug Artemisinin, as well as the first successfully completed artificial parthenogenesis of the toad oocyte. Moreover, the related institutes have taken the lead in modern biotechnology research based on genetic engineering in China.
SIBS targets a world leading position in scientific and technological innovation, and aims to raise its international competitiveness through technological innovation and development. In its classified appraisal system, SIBS adopts the evaluation approach of emphasizing quality rather than quantity in basic research, and gradually introduces the international expert evaluation committee system. Market demand and mechanism are taken as the criteria for evaluating further development and industrialization work.
