The state key laboratories in China are the important scientific and technological innovation base to organize and carry out basic research, applied basic research and frontier technology research. This article provides an overview of the China's state key laboratory development in the past 36 years, and emphasizes its vital role in national scientific and technological innovation together with the economic and social development. Furthermore, the characteristics of the state key laboratory are analyzed under the background of ‘new situation, new mission and new requirements’. Finally, the future development suggestions for the state key laboratory are systematically proposed at a strategic height in terms of new concept and new pattern

State Key Laboratory  /  state innovation system  /  laboratory development