TCU implements the innovation-driven strategy to lead the development trend of new urbanization and urban modernization. Following the guideline of creating distinguishing features of TCU, making hallmark achievements, strengthening scientific and technological services, forming research team and improving innovation abilities, TCU has been playing an important role in building scientific and technological innovation platforms at the national, provincial and ministerial levels for resolving major technical issues.    

TCU owns 31 science and technology platforms at municipal and ministerial level, including 1 National Engineering Research Center, 4 municipal and ministerial key laboratories, 8 municipal and ministerial engineering centers, 1 international joint research center, 1 base of humanities and social sciences, 1 university think tank, 1 municipal and ministerial think tank of scientific and technological innovation, 1 municipal and ministerial base of technology transfer, 2 municipal and ministerial collaborative innovation center, 1 strategic alliance, 8 Tianjin science base, and 1 “Belt and Road” collaborative laboratory.

In recent 5 years, TCU has been approved over 110 national scientific research projects and over 370 municipal and ministerial scientific research projects; has published nearly 90 academic works and has obtained more than 200 invention patents.  In 2020, TCU won Tianjin Patent Award for the first time. The average annual research fund is more than 110 million yuan in recent three years.

With scientific research advantages towards Binhai new region, TCU has gained unique influence in Tianjin and even across China. In the field of green building and building energy saving, urbanization and new rural construction, TCU has celebrated a number of landmark achievements with considerable influence in China and abroad, and made outstanding contributions to serve the nation’s and Tianjin's economic and social development and urban construction.