中科院停止支付，涉30种外刊

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) will stop funding article processing charges (APC) for 30 high-cost open access journals starting March 1, aiming to control costs and promote the development of domestic journals [1][3]. Group 1: Policy Changes - CAS will prohibit its scientists from using institutional funds to pay APC for the specified 30 journals, each costing over $5,000 (approximately 34,328 RMB) [3]. - The new policy also restricts the use of central government funding, including from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Natural Science Foundation, for these APCs [3]. - Researchers can still publish in these journals if they have alternative funding sources [3]. Group 2: Context and Implications - Since 2019, the Chinese government has been promoting the development of 400 world-class scientific journals as affordable alternatives to Western journals [3]. - As of 2023, there are approximately 178 English open access journals in China, with nearly half not charging APCs [3]. - The policy may significantly impact open access journals, as about 10% of authors for "Nature Communications" and "Science Advances" are from CAS, with around 40% of authors for each journal coming from Chinese institutions [5]. Group 3: Industry Reactions - Other institutions in China may follow CAS's lead in limiting APC expenditures [5]. - The high profits of major international publishers are viewed as unsustainable by many in China and other regions [4]. - Similar measures to reduce APC spending have been adopted in other countries, such as Germany and the United States [5].