East China University of Science and Technology (simplified Chinese: 华东理工大学; traditional Chinese: 華東理工大學; pinyin: Huádōng Lǐgōng Dàxué) is a state key university of the People's Republic of China and one that is regarded as the cradle of Chinese chemical engineers. East China University of Science and Technology, originally named East China Institute of Chemical Technology (华东化工学院, was founded in 1952. It was the first single-subject institute in China, consolidated by the chemistry departments of National Chiaotung University, Université d'Aurora, Utopia University, Soochow University, and Yangtze University. It was designated as a national key university by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in 1960 and renamed to its current name in 1993. With the effort of half a century, the university has developed itself into a national key university with technology as the major subject, distinct characteristics of each subject and a coordinated development of subjects including technology, science, economics, administration, humanities and law. ECUST has been a member of the project 211 since 1996.