According to the reform plan for the classification of scientific research institutions approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Editorial Office of the People's Republic of China in 2001, the China Meteorological Administration reorganized the former Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Meteorological Research Institute to establish the Urumqi Institute of Desert Meteorology of the China Meteorological Administration, which is a national research institute of social public welfare. Under the strong leadership of China Meteorological Administration and the strong support of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Xinjiang Meteorological Administration has played a leading role in supporting the reform and development of the Institute. After 20 years of reform and development, the Institute has made great progress in terms of the level of scientific and technological independent innovation, the construction of scientific research infrastructure, the development of human resources, the operation and management mechanism, and the scientific and technological support capacity for high-quality development of meteorology.

Reviewing the history of reform and development, the Desert Institute has achieved remarkable results after the efforts of 2002-2004, and successfully passed the joint assessment and acceptance of the reform of the scientific and technological system composed of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance and the Central Editorial Office in October 2004. 2005-2011, the Desert Institute has achieved significant improvement in the scientific and technological infrastructure, scientific and technological innovation capacity, talent team building, and operational scientific and technological support capacity, focusing on the prevention and mitigation of meteorological disaster and responding to climate change, as well as highlighting the characteristics of the regional research. From 2012 to 2015, as a pilot reform unit, the Desert Institute formulated a pilot program to deepen the reform, put forward the development idea of “transforming the core, strengthening the advantages, emphasizing the application, emphasizing the synergy, and seeking talents”, and steadily pushed forward the reform of meteorological science and technology system. 

From 2016 to 2019, focusing on the enhancement of scientific and technological innovation capacity of core business, taking Central Asian atmospheric scientific research as a key, continuously promoting various reform initiatives, further optimizing the layout of disciplines, increasing the volume of research, strengthening the construction of innovative teams, consolidating the foundation of scientific research, optimizing the innovative environment, improving the evaluation and incentive mechanism, and achieving remarkable progress in scientific and technological innovation, business scientific and technological support, international cooperation, and the construction of human resources, among others. Progress. The reform has been effective, and the assessment of national meteorological research institutes in 2016 and 2020 won good results. in December 2023, CMA and the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region jointly established the Xinjiang Innovative Research Institute for the Development and Utilization of Air and Cloud Water Resources.