The Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) was established in 1958 by merging three organizations, namely, the Water Resources Research Institute under the Ministry of Water Resources, the Hydropower Research Institute under the Ministry of Electric Power Industry and the Institute of Hydraulic Research under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Disbanded in 1969 and reorganized in February 1978, now the Institute is affiliated with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Water Resources and State Electric Power Corporation. It was renamed as the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research in 1994.

The Institute has a long history and its founding can be traced back to 1933. The Tianjin Hydraulic Laboratory, pioneer of research institute in the field of hydraulic engineering in China at that time, became a component of the Institute since its merging into the Water Resources Research Institute in 1949.

After 40 years since the establishment, the Institute is now developed into a research center of water resources and hydropower in China. It is responsible for the research tasks encountered in major hydro projects, state five-year plan key programs of science and major
programs funded by the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Electric Power Corporation, as well as the Natural Science Foundation Commission of China. Emphasis is being laid on the following research activities: development, utilization and management of water resources, flood control and disaster reduction, water saving technology and engineering measures to ensure high agricultural yield, sedimentation problems in rivers and reservoirs, hydraulic problems related to high dams, new structures and new materials for dam construction, foundation and geotechnical problems, aseismatic technology for hydraulic projects, new hydro turbines and pumps, automation for power stations and pump system, hydraulic problems arising from cooling water system in thermal and nuclear power plants, environmental problems related to thermal and hydro projects, etc. Besides, the Institute is also engaged in design of hydro projects, supervision of engineering construction safety monitoring and safety identification of large dams as well as technical consulting service at home and abroad. The annual revenue of the Institute is growing rapidly, up to 0.21 billion Yuan in 2001.

The Institute has achieved the first class certificate for engineering consultation issued by the Chinese Engineering Consultation Society, the first class certificate (SEAC A1024) for Environmental Impact Assessment issued by the National Environment Protection Agency, the first class certificate (WSCC A70) for planning of water and soil conservation projects issued by the Ministry of Water Resources, the first class certificate for assessment of seismic risks issued by the China Seismological Bureau, the first class certificate, for engineering supervision. It also has achieved the national metrological accredition since 1994.

On the basis of research findings, the companies surbordinated to the Institute have developed various practical techniques and products for the need of society and national economy development.

The Institute is composed of 15 research departments and centers. It boasts a staff of 1,383, 54% of them are scientific and technical personnal, including 415 senior engineers, 340 engineers. Among them, 2 are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 4 are academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Divided into two parts, the northern and southern compounds of the Institute are some 4 km apart. Two compounds cover total land area of 270,000 m² and embrace 32 laboratories with total area of 30,000m². About 120 sets of sophisticated test facilities and instruments are provided for experimental tests, including a high precision universal hydraulic machine model test facility, a high speed water tunnel, a large-scale vacuum tank, a large-scale high performance triaxial vibration actuating system, a 450g-t geotechnical centrifuge, a rigid rock testing machine and a large-scale triaxial testing machine for geotechnical test, etc.

The Institute is actively involved in international exchange and cooperation with the overseas famous research institutes and
universities as well as the major international academic societies. Becides the International Research and Training Center on
Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES), funded by UNESCO and the Chinese Government, the Chinese National Committee on Large Dams (CHINCOLD), the Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (CNCID) and the Coordination Group for Chinese member of International Association of Hydraulic Research(IAHR) are also seated in the Institute.

The Institute actively develops its international business in recent years and attained the certificate of foreign trade right in 1993.

The Institute is accredited and authorized by the State Council to offer programs of graduate studies for Doctor s and Master s
degrees. Up to 2001, 329 Masters and 35 Doctors have been conferred.

To serve for the society and promote the development of economy whole-heartedly is the cardinal purpose of the Institute. IWHR
is constantly improving itself to provide excellent service to prospective clients at home and abroad.