The Ecological Technology Institute of Construction Engineering (ETICE), Shenzhen University, was formally founded on March 26, 2012, is a non-profit research organization which is made up of universities, government departments, developers, architectural design institutes, consulting firms, contractors and professionals. ETICE is not only one of the first research institutes to implement General Secretary Xi Jinping’s "Two Mountains Theory" (Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets), it is also one of the pioneer organizations that promote the sponge city construction, water environment governance, resource utilization of construction waste and river bed sediments, smart city, healthy buildings, ecoways, and ecological technology development. ETICE participated in the pilot work of the sponge city construction in Xixian New District, Shaanxi Province, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province and Shenzhen in the whole process.

Prof. Jian, Prof. Zhu Ding and Prof. Nian She were assigned as the director and deputy directors by Shenzhen University on March 26, 2012, and in charge of the ETICE operation and management. Prof. Zengwen Bu of Jindian Construction Technology Co., Ltd. was appointed as the Honorary Director on March 26, 2012. Prof. Feiyong Chen, a member of the Japanese Academy of Engineering, Zhujiang Scholar and Dean of the Innovation Institute of Environment and Resource of Shandong Jianzhu University, is appointed as the Chairman of the Academic Advisory Committee of ETICE on October 10, 2019. Prof. Bu and Prof. Chen are responsible for major engineering technology consulting and guide the research and development of technology strategy.

The research team is composed of more than 50 well-known scholars and experts in China and abroad. The core members have long been engaged in the research and management of construction engineering, water conservancy, environmental engineering, municipal engineering, urban planning, architecture, landscape engineering, building materials, geotechnical engineering, fluid mechanics, ecology, and are familiar with sustainable development and ecology technology, with rich practical and innovative experience.

The main research interests of the ETICE focus on the following fields: 1) Innovative sponge city technology; 2) New energies such as hydropower, wind power, tidal and wave power, and geothermal technology; 3) Green construction technologies such as as-cast finish concrete, civil engineering materials and roller compacted concrete; 4) Advanced detection techniques such as structure reinforcement and repair and seismic protection; 5) Sustainable development model of construction industry; 6) Water pollution treatment of rivers, lakes, reservoirs and sanitary sewage; 7) Non-point pollution and flood control technology; 8) Ecological urban planning and landscaping planning; 9) Treatment techniques of the polluted soil, and land utilization technology; 10) Reuse of construction waste; 11) Geological disaster protection and stability of sanitary landfill; 12) Sediment control technology of rivers, reservoirs, ponds and lakes; 13) Monitoring technology of discharge and water quality; 14) Eco agricultural technology and soil remediation; 15) Construction technology of underground comprehensive tunnel; and 16) Treatment techniques of the polluted deposits and construction waste.