Joint laboratories are research platforms jointly established by universities, research institutions, or enterprises with domestic and international partners. They aim to conduct basic research, technological innovation, and talent cultivation in response to major national strategic needs and cutting-edge disciplines. Their development follows the principle of "quality over quantity," and is cultivated through various models such as international collaborative research centers, international collaborative laboratories, and joint construction by provinces and ministries, forming a multi-level system covering both the Ministry of Education and provincial levels.

The following are project introductions of some representative joint laboratories:

I. China-Pakistan Joint Laboratory for Small Hydropower Technology under the Belt and Road Initiative

The laboratory was successfully selected as one of the first batch of "Belt and Road" joint laboratories in 2019 and included in the list of practical cooperation projects of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in October 2023. The laboratory focuses on renewable energy and rural electrification, conducting joint research, capacity building, technology demonstration, and promotion with Pakistan. Its core construction content is the "China-Pakistan Small Hydropower Technology Joint Research Project." In October 2023, the Chinese technical team completed the construction of the off-grid multi-energy complementary system of hydropower, wind power, and solar power at the Reg I and II demonstration hydropower stations in Pakistan, as well as the construction of an intelligent centralized control center. Based on the existing platform, a grid-connected complementary power generation system of hydropower, wind power, and solar power was also built. The laboratory's achievements have been disseminated to other South Asian countries, achieving significant socio-economic and livelihood benefits.

II. International Joint Laboratories under the Ministry of Education System

These laboratories are established through collaborations between Chinese universities and high-level foreign universities or research institutions. They undertake cutting-edge research tasks, gather top international talent, and play a vital role in the transformation of research results and the cultivation of internationally-oriented talent. Their construction typically adopts a "master + team" model to form joint Sino-foreign research teams, implementing a director-led system under the leadership of the host institution, and establishing an international academic committee for academic guidance.

III. Provincial and Inter-university Joint Laboratories

These laboratories serve as important platforms for regional innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, promoting in-depth cooperation and the transformation of research results in specific fields.

• Provincial Case: The “Zhejiang-France Joint Laboratory for Soft Matter and Biophysics”, approved by Zhejiang Province in 2024, collaborates with the French Interdisciplinary Physics Laboratory to conduct research on biomedical materials and has established a dual-track operation mechanism of “academic conferences + project cooperation”.

• Inter-university Case Study: In November 2024, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Tsinghua University Centre for Art and Science announced the establishment of the "STEAM Joint Laboratory." This laboratory integrates science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and art and design, aiming to promote interdisciplinary research, technological innovation, and talent cultivation. Its research areas include six major fields: artificial intelligence and design, intelligent interactive systems, sustainable design and technology, innovative education methods, data-driven design, and human-computer symbiotic design.

As of 2024, the total number of joint laboratories established by China and relevant countries under the Belt and Road Initiative had reached over 70, with the fourth batch of projects also launched simultaneously. These joint laboratories, through the deep integration of domestic and international resources, conduct major original research, playing a vital role in supporting the development of world-class disciplines, serving national strategies, and promoting international scientific and technological cooperation.