Top research body cuts use of China’s largest online academic database over steep fees
- The Chinese Academy of Sciences suspends access to CNKI journal articles because of its continuing steep rise in annual subscription payments
- Over the past decade, at least six Chinese universities have suspended the use of CNKI because of the rapid rise in fees
China’s top research organisation, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), will suspend its use of the country’s biggest online academic database because of its hefty annual subscription fee.
A notice issued by CAS’ National Science Library earlier this month said it had covered the academy’s subscription fees to CNKI, or China National Knowledge Infrastructure, since 2008 but the fees had been rising steeply every year based on CNKI’s influence in the market, according to Hongxing News, an online news service also known as Red Star News.
“In 2021, the total cost of the CNKI database for CAS reached 10 million yuan (US$1.5 million) which accounted for a ‘giant’ part of CAS’ subscription resources … In 2022, the two sides had active discussions in terms of costs and subscription models, but after many rounds of tough negotiations, CNKI still insisted on a renewal fee close to 10 million yuan,” the notice said.
On Friday, the library said it would not renew the CNKI subscription and access to the database would cease on Thursday, according to the report.
A library staff member confirmed the news to the media and said the library would replace CNKI with other research databases, such as Wanfang Data or Cqvip.com.
It is uncertain if or when the academy would resume its subscription, but “at least this year we don’t have a plan”, the employee said.