Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Circular Economy，The Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Circular Economy was established in November 2007 through a collaborative effort between the School of Urban Planning and Design (formerly the School of Environment and Urban Studies) at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School and the Shenzhen Development and Reform Bureau. As a municipal-level key laboratory, it leverages Peking University’s multidisciplinary strengths in geography, environmental science, and engineering technology to advance circular economy research. By integrating theoretical studies with practical applications, the laboratory serves as a platform for systematic policy and technological empirical research, aiming to support local development. Key research areas include empirical studies on circular economy policies and technical standards, simulation of policy implementation effects, construction of circular economy information platforms, and integration of regional circular economy experimental outcomes and technical resources.

The laboratory currently operates under academic committee governance, a director-principal investigator (PI) system, government collaborative research mechanisms, visiting scholar programs, and public access protocols. It employs over 30 researchers, including 10 project leaders, 5 postdoctoral fellows, 20 full-time researchers, and 5 visiting scholars. The team spans disciplines such as environmental science and engineering, geography, urban economics, ecology, architectural science, urban planning, and landscape design. Equipped with advanced facilities, the laboratory focuses on critical research areas: regional ecological conservation and land use technologies, solid waste recycling technologies, restoration of degraded ecosystems and environmental components in urbanized areas, regional green infrastructure and ecological security pattern construction, and simulations for urban green development planning. Since its inception, the laboratory has undertaken 27 national-level projects, including the National Key Basic Research Program and National Natural Science Foundation of China grants, as well as over 100 local government-funded projects. It has published nearly 400 papers, including over 150 SCI-indexed articles.

Moving forward, the Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Circular Economy will strengthen internal management and institutional frameworks, recruit high-caliber research teams to enhance disciplinary diversity, and conduct cutting-edge interdisciplinary research aligned with local and national development needs. The laboratory aims to become a leading specialized institution in China with significant competitive advantages, continuing to provide technological innovation and platform support for Shenzhen’s circular economy initiatives.