Established in October 1979, the Institute of Systems Science is mainly engaged in basic research in systems science, mathematics and interdisciplinary subjects related to systems science as well as application oriented basic research. Chinese famous scientists Guan Zhaozhi (KWAN Chao-chi), Wu Wenjun (Wu Wen-tsun) and Xu Guozhi (Hus Kuo-chih) are the main founders of the institute. Professor Guan Zhaozhi was the first director of the institute and professors Cheng Ping, Chen Hanfu and Guo Lei were the subsequent directors of the institute. Professor Gao Xiao-Shan and professor Zhang Jifeng are currently the director and the deputy director of the institute respectively. 　

The institute of Systems Science has three key laboratories of CAS, two research groups, and two research centers of AMSS. The institute has a strong and spirited research team. Among 64 staff members in the institute, 56 are faculty members, including 6 academicians, 2 fellows of the Third World Academy, 2 IEEE fellows, 29 professors, and 11 recipients of the National Science Fund for Distinguished Youth Scholars and Hundred Talents Program of CAS.

The main research fields of the institute include systems and control, mathematical mechanization, operational research and management, statistical science, discrete mathematics, etc.

The institute has strong international connections as well as excellent interaction with local industry and government departments. Research in the institute is strengthened by streams of visitors who arrive to work on collaborative research with the institute faculty.

In the past years, the scientific personnel in our institute have made important contributions to the country’s development in systems science and mathematics. They have won 7 important international scientific awards, 1 National Premium Science and Technology Award, 8 National Natural Science Awards, 11 National Science and Technology Progress Awards, 5 First Prizes of CAS Natural Science Award, 6 first Prizes of CAS Science and Technology Progress Award, 2 First Prizes of CAS Science and Technology Achievement Award, 5 CAS Great Achievement Awards,1 CAS Distinguished Science and Technology Achievement Award and many other important awards.

At present, the institute is in charge of “Mathematics mechanization methods and applications in information technology”, a national key program of basic research development (973),and other national key programs. Moreover, this institute is also in charge of several other key programs from Natural Science Foundation of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and some industries and companies.

The institute is responsible for graduate students education. Over the past 25 years, 287 and 262 students have obtained their PhD or Master's degrees here, and most of them went to universities, companies and research institutions, domestic and abroad. Also, the institute is one of the first batch Post Doctor Stations in our country. There are 102 post-doctors who studied and are studying since 1987 in the institute.

Besides, the institute currently undertakes the editing and publication of six scientific journals:Journal of Systems Science and Mathematical Science, Journal of Systems Science and Complexity, Theory and Practice of Systems Engineering, Control Theory & Applications, Journal of Control Theory & Applications, and Mathematics in Practice and Theory.