Forum Onsite

Member Cerfitication Presentation

Li Junkai, Secretary-General of the Zhongguancun Global High-level Think Tank Alliance (ZGCTA) and Director of the International and Regional Cooperation Center of the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (BJAST) was invited to the Inaugural Springer Nature China Research Advisory Forum on September 6, 2025, for in-depth round-table discussions and sharing of practical experience and cutting-edge thinking on two key topics: international cooperation and research evaluation.

As a leading global research publisher, Springer Nature newly established its China Research Advisory Council which brings together 25 leading representatives from sectors of research, research funding, policy-making and corporate research, with an aim to better understand China’s research ecosystem, meet diversified needs, and build a global network of academic advisory committees. The Council is composed of a rotating group with a focus on early-career researchers and female scientists to ensure diverse and fresh perspectives.

In his opening remarks, Arnout Jacobs, President of Springer Nature Greater China, stated that establishing this Council was its ongoing commitment to further supporting Chinese science. Magdalena Skipper, Editor-in-Chief of Nature and Chief Editorial Adviser for Nature Portfolio, emphasized that the Council not only served China’s research priorities but also aligned with Springer Nature’s global mission of promoting progress together. Nick Campbell, Vice President, Academic Affairs at Springer Nature, indicated that the Council was a powerful engine for innovation and collaboration, and that he looked forward to working closely with its members to provide solutions to the challenges against China’s research ecosystem.

Featuring round-table discussions on two themes of international cooperation and research evaluation, the Forum was lively participated by representatives from institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and Huawei Technologies. Li Junkai, also a member to the Council, offered constructive perspectives. In the session on international cooperation, Li Junkai, drawing on the practice of ZGCTA, suggested that academic publishing institutions shall leverage global networks and reputation to build trust-worthy collaboration platforms, promote data openness and dissemination of research results, and serve as bridges for policy communication, translating scientific insights into policy references and contributing to an open and inclusive environment for international scientific and technological cooperation. In the session on research evaluation, Li further proposed Three-dimensional Core Characteristics, an ideal research evaluation model, composed of: 1) Diversity in an evaluation matrix encompassing academic contribution, technological breakthroughs, policy impact, social services, and talent development; 2) Classified evaluation which considers and respects different disciplines, research stages and career paths rather than “tiered evaluation”; and 3) Openness in encouraging science practices, recognizing pre-print priority, and rewarding data sharing and reproducible research. Regarding the role of publishing houses, she proposed initiatives for translating and disseminating research results, suggesting a launch of an “understandable research” initiative, which encourages authors to produce accessible interpretations for the public and policymakers alongside academic papers, so as to explain the research background, core findings, and social value in non-technical language. These should be made available simultaneously on publishing platforms to enhance public impact and conversion efficiency of research results.

With further efforts to deepen collaboration among ZGCTA members, the Zhongguancun Global High-level Think Tank Alliance will inject further impetus into global science and technology governance, sustainability, and the development of Beijing as an international science and technology innovation center.

(Text/Photo by ZGCTA Secretariat Office)