Established in 1959 and named as Shanghai Institute of Nuclear Research before June 2003, Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), is a CAS institute of comprehensive researches in photon science, nuclear science and technology, and interdisciplinary studies, and in promoting industrial development of the scientific and technological achievements. It has two campuses occupying a total area of 47 hectares, being located in Shanghai Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park and Jiading district, the satellite township of science and technology in Shanghai. SINAP has been making efforts towards developing it in about 15 years into a photon science center of the world class and a multi-disciplinary research base combining nuclear science and technology with other disciplinary of sciences.

Fields of research of the institute include mainly accelerator physics and techniques, advanced photon science, nuclear science and technology (excluding those for arms) and interdisciplinary studies.