The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has established a national scientific journal publishing group to consolidate publishing operations and strengthen the international reach of China's scientific journals.
Officially named Beijing Zhongke Journal Publishing & Media Group Co., the new organization aims to address structural challenges in China's scientific publishing sector, including fragmented resources, small-scale operations, and limited international influence. Lu Fangjun, director of the CAS Bureau of Basic Capacity for Science and Technology, outlined these objectives at the group's launch ceremony in Beijing.
According to Lu, the fragmented structure of domestic scientific publishing has limited journals' ability to disseminate research and expand their global influence. The new group is intended to consolidate journal resources across CAS and other institutions in China, moving from separate, institute-managed operations toward a more integrated publishing model.
The group will combine academic expertise with market-oriented operations and manage production and distribution activities, including editing, proofreading, typesetting, and international dissemination. This arrangement is intended to reduce the routine publishing workload of research institutes, allowing them to focus on editorial strategy, attracting research submissions, and strengthening their journals' academic standing.
Lu noted that 68 journals launched by CAS in 2026 were already operating under this model, with production and dissemination managed through the publishing group's in-house platform. These publications include the Data Express series, which is designed to support emerging research paradigms.
Hu Huaqiang, chairman of China Science Publishing & Media Ltd., the parent company of the new group, outlined plans to benchmark its operations against leading international scientific journals and develop an internationally recognized publishing brand based in China.
The group intends to attract scientific and technological research and innovation from China and other countries while maintaining academic standards. It also plans to pursue international collaboration, participate more actively in the global scholarly publishing ecosystem, and promote open access and open science practices.
According to the announcement, the group aims to provide accessible and inclusive services for academic exchange and strengthen the international dissemination of Chinese scientific research.
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