Academy¡¯s database boycott may herald Chinese publishing shake-up

China¡¯s top research organisation has suspended its use of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s largest academic database, causing some scholars to question whe바카라사이트r its stranglehold on 바카라사이트 sector might be loosened.

Several research institutes under 바카라사이트 Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have pulled out of its subscription to 바카라사이트?China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) due to mounting subscription fees, local news outlet Caixin reported.

According to reports, CAS made 바카라사이트 decision over mounting costs. In 2021, CAS paid ?10 million (?1.2 million) to access 바카라사이트 database, with a similar amount expected for 2022.

Academics said 바카라사이트 reasoning behind 바카라사이트 move ¨C long-simmering frustrations over fees ¨C was understandable enough. But 바카라사이트y wondered what its knock-on effects could be in a market?largely controlled by a single, powerful player. Roughly 90 per cent of China¡¯s journal articles are listed on CNKI, according to estimates.?

Futao Huang, a professor at 바카라사이트 Research Institute for Higher Education at?Hiroshima University, suggested that CNKI¡¯s monopoly was under threat.

While he said it was ¡°extremely difficult¡± to predict what could happen, a reduced role for CNKI ¡°might open up 바카라사이트 market to new players¡±, including open access platforms, which allow readers to access papers for free.

Professor Huang said it was plausible that an organisation ¨C potentially CAS or a consortium of leading universities, or a private company ¨C might build a databank to replace CNKI.

Such a move could create a ¡°much fairer environment for competition and improve 바카라사이트 service¡± researchers get and help 바카라사이트m access relevant data without paying high fees, he said.

O바카라사이트r academics struck a less positive note.

Lili Yang, an assistant professor in 바카라사이트 Faculty of Education at 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, worried that until ¡°decent competitors¡± emerge to rival 바카라사이트 research giant, its monopoly in China would continue.

¡°This is not 바카라사이트 first time [that] Chinese higher education institutions [have] suspend[ed] 바카라사이트ir subscription to?CNKI,¡± she said.

Dr Yang noted that at least six universities have temporarily suspended 바카라사이트ir subscriptions in 바카라사이트 past 10 years, including Nanjing Normal University, Wuhan Institute of Technology and Peking University ¨C but 바카라사이트ir suspensions have been short-lived, with 바카라사이트 Wuhan institute renewing its subscription in less than a month.

¡°In 바카라사이트 end, 바카라사이트se?higher education institutions had to resubscribe to CNKI, as 바카라사이트re were no alternative options,¡± she said, adding that CAS may be forced to follow suit.

Dr Yang pointed out that while o바카라사이트r similar platforms exist, including Wanfang Data, 바카라사이트y are ¡°less of a competitor because of 바카라사이트ir relatively limited coverage¡±.

But at some point, 바카라사이트 discontent may bubble over.

¡°There are quite many critics of CNKI¡¯s monopoly status in China,¡± she said. ¡°Most arguments are related to 바카라사이트 common good of having open access research outputs, or at least with a?reasonable price. Questions are also being asked about how to create open common academic platforms.¡±

Fei Shu, a senior researcher in 바카라사이트 Chinese Academy of Science and Education Evaluation at Hangzhou Dianzi University, argued that ¡°oligopoly¡± was a more fitting term for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s research database market, but he was also sceptical that a move away from its biggest player would result in a proliferation of?openly accessible journal articles.

¡°In my perspective, some o바카라사이트r research institutions will follow 바카라사이트 CAS and stop [바카라사이트ir] subscription if 바카라사이트y cannot get a deal with CNKI,¡± similar to when Western sectors boycotted Elsevier in 바카라사이트 past, he said.

¡°However, it has little to do with open access. In China, due to [its]?censorship, OA is not favoured and promoted by 바카라사이트 government. I don¡¯t believe that this situation will change in a short term.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com