China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Center (CSEI), a semi-governmental organization, is the sole national technical organization responsible for the inspection and R&D of Special Equipment in China.

"Special Equipment" refers to boilers, pressure vessels, pressure pipelines, elevators, cranes, passenger ropeways and large amusement devices.

Approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Center of Boiler and Pressure Inspection and Research (CBPVI) was founded in October 1979, directly under  the former Ministry of Labor. The China  State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision took charge of CBPVI in July 1998.

After the reshuffle of the organizations of the State Council in April 2001, CBPVI became the subsidiary institution under General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People's Republic of China (AQSIQ).

In 2004, CBPVI changed her name to China Special Equipment Inspection and Research Center (CSEI).