U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center

Welcome to the U.S.-China Clean Energy
Research Center (CERC)

In November 2009, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the establishment of the $150 million U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). The Protocol formally establishing the Center was signed at ceremonies in Beijing by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Administrator Zhang Guobao.

The CERC builds upon over 30 years of U.S. and China science and technology collaboration. Under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement of 1979 and its 1991 amendment, our two countries have cooperated in a diverse range of fields, including basic research in physics and chemistry, earth and atmospheric sciences, a variety of energy-related areas, environmental management and more.

President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao

The CERC facilitates joint research and development on clean energy technology by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China. It is a flagship initiative funded in equal parts by the United States and China, with broad participation from universities, research institutions and industry. U.S. funds will be used exclusively to support work conducted by U.S. institutions and individuals only, and Chinese funds will support work conducted by Chinese institutions and researchers.

Secretary Chu and Administrator Zhang Guobao at discussions initiating the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, November 2009

Secretary Steven Chu, State Councilor Liu Yandong, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Minister Wan Gang