The International Space Science Institute in Beijing (ISSI-BJ) was jointly established by the National Space Science Center (NSSC) and the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) with the support of the International Cooperation Bureau and the Space Science Strategic Project of the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS). ISSI-BJ is a close cooperation partner of ISSI in Bern, Switzerland. Both institutes share the same Science Committee, the same study tools, and other information of mutual relevance and interest. However, both use independent operational methods and different funding sources. ISSI-BJ is a non-profit research institute.

The main mission of ISSI-BJ is to contribute to the achievement of a deeper scientific and technological understanding of future space missions as well as of the scientific results from current and past missions through multidisciplinary research, possibly involving whenever felt appropriate, ground-based observations and laboratory experiments, using similar tools as ISSI, i.e. Forums, International Teams, Workshops, Working Groups or individual Visiting Scientists. The Program of ISSI-BJ covers a wide spectrum of space science disciplines, including solar and space physics, planetary science, astrobiology, microgravity science and Earth observation from space. It offers a complement to the ISSI program with special emphasis on future scientific opportunities.