Welcome to the U.S.-China Clean Energy
Research Center (CERC)

In November 2009, President Barack Obama and President Hu Jintao announced the establishment of the $150 million U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). The Protocol formally establishing the Center was signed at ceremonies in Beijing by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Chinese Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang, and Chinese National Energy Agency Administrator Zhang Guobao. Since then, President Obama and China's current President Xi Jinping have affirmed their intentions to continue useful bilateral cooperation on clean energy innovation—including CERC.

President Barack Obama and President Xi Jinping shake hands

President Xi Jinping and President Barack Obama endorse continued U.S.-China cooperation on clean energy innovation

The CERC builds upon over 30 years of U.S. and China science and technology collaboration. Under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement of 1979 and its 1991 amendment, our two countries have cooperated in a diverse range of fields, including basic research in physics and chemistry, earth and atmospheric sciences, a variety of energy-related areas, environmental management and more.

The CERC facilitates joint research and development on clean energy technology by teams of scientists and engineers from the United States and China. It is a flagship initiative funded in equal parts by the United States and China, with broad participation from universities, research institutions and industry. U.S. funds will be used exclusively to support work conducted by U.S. institutions and individuals only, and Chinese funds will support work conducted by Chinese institutions and researchers.

Secretary Moniz Gang and Minister Wan Gang

Secretary Ernest Moniz and Minister Wan Gang express their strong support for the future of CERC and desire to make it work even better (pictured from left to right are Secretary Moniz, Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman, Deputy Assistant Secretary Phyllis Yoshida, Minister Counselor Li Chaochen, unidentified interpreter, Minister Wan Gang, and Director General Jin Xiaoming)