Grounded in the ministerial-level key laboratories of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) at Zhengzhou University of Light Industry, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Tobacco Industry of Zhengzhou University of Light Industry (hereinafter referred to as the "Laboratory") was established in January 2013 upon approval by the STMA. ‌The Key Laboratory primarily researches two core domains, namely tobacco harm reduction and tobacco flavor enhancement. The Laboratory boasts38 full-time researchers, including 29 senior researchers, and 23 of them hold doctoral degrees. The Laboratory occupies an area of more than3,000 square meters for scientific research, with over 60 sets of instruments and equipment valued atover RMB 53 million in total. Over the past three years, the Laboratory has secured the scientific research funds of over RMB 45 million; presided over 12 projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, two projects including a National Science and Technology Major Project and a sub-project of the National High-tech R&D Program (863 Program) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, a national and ministerial major special project, three national and ministerial key projects, 30 provincial and ministerial scientific research projects, and more than 50 cooperation projects with enterprises. In addition, the Laboratory has received one second prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award presented by China National Tobacco Corporation, and one first prize and two second prizes of the Science and Technology Progress Award presented by Henan Province; authorized more than 30 patents; and published over 40 papers in SCI/EI-indexed journals.