Research and innovation is the path for ZUFE's further development. With increasing investment in research, ZUFE has been achieving breakthroughs in granted funds, sponsored projects, research achievements, and other core indicators, as well as making great strides in social service capacity and research aggregate with rapidly improving research performance.

In the last five years, ZUFE has received 46 Excellent Research Achievement Awards at provincial and ministerial level and above, and has taken charge of 247 scientific research projects at the national level and 501 at provincial and ministerial level. The number of national research projects of philosophy and social sciences it has undertaken ranks top among all provincial colleges and universities.