The academic publishing market in China is developing quickly but is still in a growth phase. This provides tremendous opportunities for international publishers and societies to expand their international presence, diversify their revenue streams, etc. Currently, the Chinese research ecosystem boasts an increasing number of internationally recognized scientists producing high-quality research. (For example, in 2022, China overtook the US in the number of most cited papers globally.) This has attracted many international academic publishers to the Chinese market, eager to engage with a growing base of highly talented researchers. Many leading international academic publishers and societies have established their brands in China and are investing considerable effort into increasing their share of the academic publishing market in this country. This blogpost presents an overview of the digitization of China’s academic publishing industry, and its implications for the academia market in China.
The Chinese government’s views on the digitization of academic publishing
The Chinese government has been actively promoting the digitalization of the academic publishing industry and is in support of measures to improve the quality and quantity of academic publications in China. This provides more opportunities for international academic publishers to promote their publications in the Chinese market and build closer ties with the Chinese academic communities in this digital era.
For example, a document called the Opinions on Promoting the Prosperity and Development of Academic Journals came out in June 2021. It was put together by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Science and Technology. It lays out some important points, like the need to boost academic publishing quality and ethics, create a better environment for development, improve evaluation systems, and standardize publishing practices. The overall goal is to push for the healthy and robust growth of academic journal publishing.
Another important government publication is The Outline of the National Plan for Cultural Reform and Development during the 11th Five-Year Plan Period. It basically suggests that the publishing industry needs to speed up its transition from traditional paper-based publishing to a digital publishing industry with various media formats. The publishing industry is seen as a driving force for the growth of the digital economy. The document focuses on transforming and upgrading academic publishing, moving towards integrated publishing and ultimately achieving deep integration.
Status of digitization in academic publishing in China
Digital development has really shaken things up in the world of academic publishing. It’s brought about highly efficient ways of communicating and has given a huge boost to scientific research and academic progress. China has fully embraced digitization too; the use of digital publications in China keeps growing year after year. According to one report, in 2019, digital publications made up 36.2 percent of the total, then it jumped to 39.6 percent in 2020, and in 2021, it hit a 44.4 percent.
There’s also considerable investment and financing going into China’s digitalization of academic publishing. In 2021 alone, China invested a staggering 1.17 billion yuan into this endeavor—a massive 42.9 percent increase compared to 2020. According to the report, China’s digital publishing industry earned an estimated 1.6 trillion yuan ($229 billion) in 2023, up 19 percent from 2022.
When it comes to digital platforms for Chinese academic publishing, there are a few big players that come to mind. These are CNKI, Wanfang Database, and VIP Info, just to name a few. These platforms are making it easier than ever to access and share academic content in China’s digital landscape.
Key players in the digitization of academic publishing in China
The National Science Library of the Chinese Academy of Science has an impressive knowledge platform. They’ve gone ahead and digitized a whopping 400-million-yuan worth of physical data, covering a wide range of types. Further, they’ve got over 200 specialized data sets across various fields, amounting to a value of 90 million yuan. They have also digitized 11-million-yuan worth of personnel data, 6 million yuan of institutional data, 6.05 billion yuan of knowledge map relationship data, and even important national and regional projects valued at 6 million yuan. They also offer services like data processing, intelligence services, and network data capture.
In fact, the National Science Library is also collaborating with Clarivate, Springer, Elsevier, and other academic publishing giants across the globe. This means they’re not just collecting and storing data, but they’re also making sure that the metadata associated with it is well-organized and accessible.
The Science and Technology Big Data Knowledge Resource Center provides integral support for innovation in the field of science and technology. They’ve established a comprehensive system that includes a primary database, domain knowledge base, and knowledge graph. This system serves as a strong foundation to provide precise and tailored services, knowledge maps, intelligent computing, and information analysis.
Thanks to advancements in information technology, the publishing process of academic journals in China has become faster and more manageable. It’s now more flexible, allowing for greater adaptability. The digital development in this realm has truly amplified the functions of academic journals. To keep up with the growing needs of researchers, Chinese academic journals are expanding their communication channels and embracing new media platforms.
Conclusion
In sum, academic publishing is rapidly growing in China, and this growth is accelerated by digitalization. The aim is to meet the increasing demands and facilitate effective communication between Chinese researchers. It’s all about fostering collaboration and sharing knowledge through innovative means. By leveraging digital advancements, Chinese academic journals and platforms are stepping up their game to serve researchers better than ever before. These trends will continue to drive the development of academic publishing in China.
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