The overarching goal behind the research of the Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, CAS, (ITPCAS) is to better understand the uplift history of the Tibetan Plateau and their impacts on regional environment, and to help achieve sustainable development of the region through the study of environmental processes on the Plateau and their social and economic impacts. With the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as its foundation, the ITPCAS draws upon the rich scientific experience generations of Chinese scientists have accumulated and the academic flagship the CAS is known to attract more outstanding talents interested in Chinese Tibetan Plateau research and conduct interdisciplinary study of some crosscutting themes.

At the current stage, the academic focuses of the ITP range from the Geosphere structure and plateau uplifting mechanism and the Uplifting process and environment of East Asia to Paleo-environment change revealed from high resolution proxy, and from Land surface system and processes and Atmospheric process to Biological adaptability and genetic resources under radical environment.

In addressing these scientific issues, the ITP is grounded in nearly a hundred research projects with the participation of hundreds of scientific staff ranging from CAS academicians, professors, and associate professors to graduates and postdoctoral fellows involved in the research system featuring the combination of in situ monitoring with indoor experiment and analysis.