In recent years, critical care medicine, a core discipline dedicated to the management of critically ill patients, is increasingly recognized for its vital role in healthcare. Its advancement is pivotal to the overall capacity of the medical system and the outcomes of critically ill patients. In the context of the high incidence, disability rates, and mortality rates of severe conditions like sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple organ failure, coupled with a growing demand for precision medicine, establishing high-level research platforms has become an imperative for propelling the field forward. This article discusses the critical role of such platforms in critical care medicine, elaborating on their significant contributions to basic research, translational science, multidisciplinary collaboration, and innovative technology development. Taking the Key Laboratory of Multiple Organ Failure of the Ministry of Education as an example, we propose key strategies for building high-level platforms, emphasizing the cultivation of a learning culture, talent development, sustainable funding, and the establishment of novel collaborative paradigms. Looking ahead, with the deepening integration of artificial intelligence and big data technologies, high-level research platforms are poised to drive critical care medicine towards greater intelligence and precision, providing robust support for enhancing treatment capabilities and achieving the strategic goals of the "Healthy China" initiative.