A new study published in Learned Publishing highlights the transformative impact of China’s Sci-Tech Journal Excellence Action Plan (CJEAP) on the country’s scientific publishing landscape. Since its implementation in 2019, CJEAP has driven remarkable growth in article volume, journal quality, and international visibility, significantly enhancing China’s position in global academic publishing.
Expanding the Reach of Sci-Tech Journals
The study, conducted by researchers from China Pharmaceutical University, analyzed bibliometric indicators of funded journals before and after the program’s launch. Findings indicate that highly funded journals expanded their research coverage and publication volume, while less-funded ones focused on attracting high-impact manuscripts. Additionally, new journals supported by CJEAP emerged as high-quality platforms, although they initially published fewer articles.
Key Findings: Growth in Impact and Internationalization
One of the key findings of the study is the correlation between CJEAP funding and citation growth. Leading and key journals have successfully increased their publication volume, while emerging journals prioritized improving citation rankings. Furthermore, the number of English-language journals in China rose from 341 in 2019 to 477 in 2023, demonstrating a shift towards international readership.
Despite these achievements, the study notes that many funded journals have increasingly relied on Chinese authors for content and citations. The percentage of articles authored by Chinese scholars grew from 66% to 74%, and citations from domestic sources also increased. While this reflects strong domestic engagement, it may also highlight the need to attract more international authors to improve global influence.
Challenges and Future Directions
While CJEAP has elevated the standing of Chinese sci-tech journals, challenges remain. The study emphasizes the need for increased international collaboration, more involvement of editorial boards in journal operations, and sustainable open-access strategies. Additionally, further efforts are needed to ensure disciplinary balance and avoid excessive reliance on domestic research output.
The findings underscore the growing significance of China’s scholarly publishing sector and suggest that continued investment in journal excellence will be crucial in bridging the gap between Chinese and globally leading academic journals.