Since the founding of the University, USTC has undertaken a large number of national, ministerial and provincial research projects, achieving a large quantity of research results. Since its participation in the CAS Experimental Program of Knowledge Innovation, USTC has achieved important and innovative results in the basic research of nano science and technology, quantum information science, life science research, fire science and fire protection technology, polar scientific investigation and research, and bio-mass clean energy research. As a result, 3 papers were published in "Nature", 1 in "Science". Five research results won national prizes, specifically 1 Follow-up Prize and 1 Third Prize in the National Natural Science Awards and 2 Follow-up Prizes and 1 Third Prize in the National Achievement Awards in Science and Technology. Among these results, "Solvothermal Preparation and Characterization of Nanocrystalline Nonoxides" won Second Prize in the National Natural Science Awards in 2001; "Early Fire Intelligent Monitoring System for Large Space Buildings and Hidden-trouble of Electric Fire Checking System" and "An Artificial Monitoring and Policy-making Support System for Preventing and Reducing the Calamities of Anhui Province" both won Follow-up Prizes in the National Achievement Awards in Science and Technology. Five research results have been candidates 7 times for the list of the 10 Major Sci-tech News Stories in China, the 10 major Basic Research News Stories in China, the 10 major Sci-tech News Stories in Chinese Universities, and the 10 Major Achievements in Science and Technology in Chinese Universities. In the recent years, the University has solely undertaken or taken part in many national major scientific programs, such as the second-phase project for the National Synchrotron Radiation Lab, HT-7U Super-conducting Tonmak.

USTC has taken a leading position among Chinese universities for the number of research papers published internationally and in the citation rate of the papers. Since 1996, USTC consistently ranks No. 4 on the number of papers included by the SCI. Since 1999, the University ranks No.1 on the number of papers published in the journals with a high-impact factor among universities across China. Between 1991 and 2000, USTC ranked No.1 among Chinese universities for the number of papers published in the internationally distinguished journals of <Science>, <Nature>, <PRL> and  <JACS>. USTC ranks No.2 among the universities and research institutions in the world for the number of nano-research papers published from 1996 to 2000. Since 1985, 421 professional patent applications have been filed, among them 237 invention patents; 369 patents have been approved, with 66 of them being invention patents.