By Zhang Shuanghu, Reporter of China Science News
"Publish the articles, buy the journals." This cycle of publishing and purchasing consumes a significant amount of research funds. In the field of scientific journals, this is known as the "double external pressure."The "2022 Global Open Access Journals and Article Processing Charges (APC) Monitoring Report" shows that Chinese corresponding authors spent approximately 4.3 billion RMB on APCs (article processing charges) in open access journals in 2022. Experts estimate that China's annual spending on publishing papers and purchasing databases could reach hundreds of billions of RMB.In 2019, the China Association for Science and Technology, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Press and Publication Administration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Chinese Academy of Engineering jointly implemented the "China Science and Technology Journals Excellence Action Plan" (referred to as the Excellence Action Plan). The plan, with a five-year cycle, aims to establish leading journals, key journals, tiered journals, and cluster pilot projects to promote the high-quality development of science and technology journals in China and accelerate the construction of world-class science and technology journals.The "Report on the Development of China's Science and Technology Journals Industry (2022)" shows that the Excellence Action Plan has played an important role in promoting the high-quality development of science and technology journals in China, solidifying the scientific and cultural foundation for becoming a powerhouse in global science and technology. However, due to the widespread problems of resource dispersion and small resource volume in China's science and technology journals industry, there is still a significant lack in integrating and supporting digital services throughout the entire research process. It is difficult to meet the urgent need for improving China's overall scientific and technological level and rapidly expanding research volume. There is a long way to go for Chinese academic journals to achieve digital breakthroughs.Cluster Development Direction Becoming Clearer
In the Excellence Action Plan, significant progress has been made in the construction of individual journals. Data shows that there are currently 276 SCI-indexed scientific journals in China, ranking sixth globally in overall level, similar to Switzerland, which ranks fifth with 311 journals. However, China's level is still far from Germany, which ranks fourth with 658 journals.Industry professionals believe that in the next few years, whether it is the overall level or individual journals, it will be very difficult for China's science and technology publishing field to surpass the competition if it continues with a "lone ranger" approach.Peng Bin, the Editor-in-Chief of China Science Publishing Media Co., Ltd. (Science Press), believes that with the rapid development of networking, informatization, and digitalization, there have been significant changes in the carriers and dissemination methods of scientific journals. The traditional linear operation process of large international science publishing groups, involving editing, printing, and distribution, has been transformed into a publishing model that utilizes modern platforms and tools. While China's science and technology journals have similar service offerings to those of foreign counterparts, there is a lack of specialization and a significant difference in the depth and effectiveness of services offered."Therefore, China should accelerate the promotion of cluster development, rely on digital platforms with independent intellectual property rights, improve the intensive level of scientific journal services, and further enhance the specialization of journal services," said Peng Bin.In this regard, Yang Lei, General Manager of Chinese Laser Press Co., Ltd., has a deep understanding.In 2004, the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, integrated the editing teams of four optical journals into a joint editorial office, marking the beginning of the exploration of "professional discipline journal clusters" by Yang Lei and her team."We have been exploring the path of professional discipline journal clusters for 20 years," Yang Lei said. "At first, there were few fellow travelers and many difficulties. But as we continued to explore step by step, we found that more and more people were drawn to this path. Especially in the past five years, many people realized that discipline journal clusters are the 'inevitable path' for China's science and technology journals to become bigger and stronger."When Chinese Laser Press began exploring the road of professional discipline journal clusters 20 years ago, there were hardly any reference points in China. Yang Lei and her team had to study and research the development paths of the Optical Society of America and the Royal Society of Physics in the United Kingdom. Although they encountered some detours along the way, they accumulated a lot of experience. In recent years, Yang Lei has found that many colleagues have the intention to develop clusters, but they are unsure about the specific steps to take.Yang Lei believes that in the past, the conditions were not favorable, and establishing a journal cluster required significant effort. Now, however, one can stand on the shoulders of their predecessors, see farther, and move faster. Of course, to root the development in disciplines, achieve cluster construction, and operate efficiently, a collective effort and consensus must be reached.Consensus on Discipline Journal Cluster Construction Announced
Sharing the accumulated experience of "crossing the river by feeling the stones," Yang Lei hopes to work together with others to build discipline journal clusters.After communicating with various parties and obtaining the support of the China Association for Science and Technology, Yang Lei and others drafted the "Consensus on Professional Discipline Journal Cluster Construction (Preliminary Draft)." After discussions among trial units including Science Press, they invited more than ten publishing experts to evaluate the preliminary draft. Based on this, the "Consensus on Professional Discipline Journal Cluster Construction" was formed.By the end of 2023, with the support of the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese Optical Society Publishing Working Committee, Chinese Laser Press Co., Ltd., Chinese Medical Journal Limited, China Society for Editing and Publishing of Science and Technology Journals, National Science Library of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and China Association for Science and Technology Journals jointly launched the "Consensus."
