Beijing Institute of Technology

Beijing Institute of Technology (abbreviated BIT is a co-educational public university, located in Beijing, China. It was established in 1940 in Yan'an, Shaanxi. It is a major research university under the supervision of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

BIT is a Chinese Ministry of Education Class A Double First Class University. As a member of Project 985 and Project 211, it is a leading multi discipline university given priority sponsorship from the Chinese government, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, the Ministry of Education (MOST) and the Beijing metropolitan Government.

Yan'an period (1940–1946)

Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences

Xu Teli, educationist and second president of BIT (1941-1943)

Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) has its origins in the Yan'an Research Academy of Natural Sciences , which was established in May 1939 in Yan'an, Shaanxi, in northwest China by the Chinese Communist Party, with the aim of training science and engineering professionals. In January 1940 when China was undergoing the most difficult phase of the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China reformed Yan'an Research Academy of Natural Sciences into Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences . The major mission of the Academy was to assist the industrial development in Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Border Region. As the first science and engineering university founded by Chinese Communist Party, Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences opened on 1 September 1940. Li Fuchun, the secretary of the CPC Committee for Shaan-Gan-Ning Border Region was appointed as the first president, and was succeeded by educationist Xu Teli.

During the founding period, Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences received great support from international organizations and individuals, including Rewi Alley.

In March 1943, Yan'an Academy of Natural Sciences was merged into the newly founded University of Yan'an , and was named as School of Natural Sciences, University of Yan'an

According to the situation of the war, University of Yan'an prepared to move the north and northeast of China by the end of 1945.