Abstract:The increasing energy demands and the commitment for environmental protections in China call for the extensive exploitation of nuclear fission energies. In close alignment with the large-scale utilization of nuclear energy, the technology for the safe disposal of nuclear waste must be developed to make fission energy sustainable. With the characteristics of providing large fluxof harder neutrons, and powerful transmutation ability for actinides and long-lived fission products, Accelerator Driven Sub-critical System(ADS)has been universally regarded as the most promising approach to dispose the long-lived nuclear wastes. In addition to its ability to significantly reduce the lifetime and volume of nuclear waste, ADS has the potential for nuclearfuel breeding and nuclear power generation as well, which could improve the utilization of nuclear fuel resources.This paper introduces the national demand for ADS research in China and its status quo worldwide. It also introduces the implementation and development of the project“Advanced Fission Energy Program——ADS Transmutation System”within the framework of the CAS StrategicPriority Research Program, with an outlook for future development of ADS at the end of this paper.