Overview

Founded in 1939, Henan Institute of Science and Technology (HIST) traces its origins to the Biology Department of Yan’an Natural Science Academy, established by the Communist Party of China in its early years. In May 2004, the institution was renamed HIST with the approval of the Ministry of Education.

Located in Xinxiang City, Henan Province, the university spans a campus area of approximately 980,000 square meters. It offers disciplines across nine discipline categories: Agriculture, Engineering, Science, Management, Education, Literature, Economics, Law, and Arts. HIST comprises 25 academic units, 76 undergraduate programs, and hosts over 26,000 full-time students.As a participant in China’s "2011 Plan" for collaborative innovation, HIST is also a key institution in Henan Province for doctoral degree authorization.

Academic Development

The university has four national-level first-class undergraduate programs and 15 national flagship programs, and has earned three national teaching achievement awards and 76 provincial awards. In recent years, students have secured over 870 national-level awards in competitions such as the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition, National Robotics Contest, National Life Sciences Competition, and National Normal Students’ Teaching Skills Competition. Since its founding, HIST has cultivated more than 200,000 high-level professionals.

With a focus on advancing Crop Science as a leading discipline, HIST fosters emerging fields such as intelligent breeding, advanced manufacturing, biomedicine, and electronic information. The Crop Science discipline and Horticulture discipline cluster have been designated as Key Characteristic Disciplines of the Henan Province, while the High-end Intelligent Lifting Equipment discipline cluster is recognized as a provincial urgent-need specialty. Notably, HIST’s Agricultural Sciences, Plant & Animal Sciences, and Engineering have entered the top 1% globally in ESI rankings, with Crop Science, Veterinary Medicine, and Food Science & Engineering listed among ShanghaiRanking’s World-Class Disciplines and Best Chinese Disciplines.

Research Achievements

HIST has undertaken 4,953 research projects, including international collaborations, national "863" and "973" programs, Natural Science Foundation projects, and major scientific R&D initiatives. It has won 1,909 scientific awards, including three National Technology Invention Awards and seven National Science and Technology Progress Awards. A landmark achievement was the 2013 National Science and Technology Progress First Prize for developing the high-yield, disease-resistant wheat cultivar "Aikang 58", which significantly contributed to China’s grain production and earned commendation from the Henan Provincial Government.

The university operates 46 national and provincial research platforms, such as the National Key Laboratory for Wheat and Maize Efficient Production, the National Modern Agricultural Science Demonstration Base, the National Pork Processing Technology R&D Center, and the Central Plains Intelligent Medical Laboratory. It also hosts the Henan Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Biological Breeding and multiple provincial key laboratories.

Faculty

HIST employs 1,960 staff members, including 653 senior professionals and over 780 PhD holders. Its faculty features one Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and one Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand, alongside 27 national-level experts (e.g., NSFC Outstanding Young Scholars, National "Ten Thousand Talents Plan" leaders). The university has also recruited 250+ provincial-level talents, including "Central Plains Scholars" and Henan’s Outstanding Experts. HIST’s postdoctoral programs have been consistently ranked among Henan’s best, with 102 postdoctoral researchers jointly trained and significant funding secured for innovation.

Collaboration & Global Engagement

Aligned with China’s "Belt and Road" initiative, HIST promotes industry-academia-research synergy, transforming academic strengths into societal impact. Recognized as a Henan Technology Transfer Demonstration Institution, it ranked 47th nationally for technology licensing income in the 2019 China University Technology Transfer Report. Its wheat cultivars "Bainong 207" and "Bainong 4199" have dominated national cultivation areas, with two varieties and two technologies recently endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture as leading wheat solutions.

HIST has established partnerships with 20+ universities in the U.S., Germany, Australia, and France, engaging 60+ international experts. The HIST-Sumy International College, jointly launched with Ukraine’s Sumy National Agrarian University, exemplifies its global commitment. The university has secured 21 international platforms, including grants from the China Scholarship Council, UNESCO exchange programs, and provincial scientist studios, while showcasing cultural heritage projects worldwide.