Development Strategy of Emerging Journals under the “Action Plan for the Excellence of Chinese STM Journals”: The Case Study of China Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Since the implementation of the "Action Plan for the Excellence of Chinese STM Journals" in 2019, dozens of new journals categorized as “high starting point journals” have been selected each year. These journals have become key channels for promoting Chinese scientific research achievements internationally and are expected to enhance China’s influence in science and technology while broadening academic outreach. This development strategy warrants analysis, as it may provide valuable insights for other countries pursuing similar goals. This study examines the characteristics of 28 new journals in the “high starting point journals” category, supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, from 2019 to 2022. The analysis covers several aspects, including sponsors, disciplinary distribution, editorial and publishing teams, publishing models, article distribution, international author participation, article types, and database indexing. The findings reveal that the Chinese Academy of Sciences has strategically aligned with China’s national policies, creating a series of high-quality English-language journals focused on frontier disciplines. Despite active governmental support and the establishment of publishing platforms such as SciEngine and Researching, which mark a shift from the passive approach of “renting a boat to go global” to the more proactive “building a boat to go global,” the process still faces some challenges.