The Engineering Research Center for Navigation Technology (ERCNT) was founded in 2000. It can be traced back to the research group of Navigation and Automatic Control established in 1958, over half a century ago. Relying on several national key disciplines including precision instrument, mechanical engineering, materials science and engineering, electronic science and technology, automation, computer science and technology, the ERCNT mainly focuses on fundamental research and engineering development of high-accuracy inertial instruments and navigation systems, as well as MEMS inertial sensors and inertial measurement systems.

With a Defense Key Laboratory of High-accuracy Inertial Instruments and System Technology, the Ministry of Education, the ERCNT has excellent research facilities. The lab now has a floor space over 3000 square meters for scientific research, as well as ultra-clean and temperature-controlled rooms of 550 square meters. It offers advanced research and experiment platform for fundamental research, key technology study and equipment development of high precision inertial instruments and navigation systems. The lab has become not only a training base for advanced talents but also an innovation platform for basic theories and key technologies in the field of inertial instrument and navigation technology. They were awarded the title of "High Precision Autonomous Navigation Technology Innovation Team" by the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2020.

The ERCNT now pays more attention to conduct cooperative research, academic exchange and talent training with institutions both at home and abroad. It has established good cooperative relationship with famous overseas universities and research institutions from Russia, Germany, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Singapore and so on.