Recently, Genes & Diseases, a journal hosted by Chongqing Medical University (CQMU), was selected for the English-Language Journal Program of the Excellence Action Plan for China’s STM (Science, Technology, and Medicine) Journals. This plan is a highly impactful, well-funded, and wide-ranging government initiative designated to provide major support for developing STM journals in China. Genes & Diseases is the only English-language medical journal published in the Chongqing Municipality to be included in this program. This achievement marks yet another milestone, following the journal’s selection in 2019 as a high-start new journal for the inaugural phase of the Excellence Action Plan, where it received an outstanding final evaluation.
The Excellence Action Plan for China’s STM Journals is a collaborative initiative involving the China Association for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Press and Publication Administration, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Its goal is to promote high-quality development of China-based STM journals and build up China’s strength in science and technology. The plan includes programs for Flagship Journals, Tiered Journals, High-Start New Journals, Journal Cluster Pilot Programs, the Development of International Digital Publishing Platforms, and the Selection and Training of High-Caliber Journal Management Talent. All of these programs are set to a 5-year cycle, except for the High-Start New Journal program, which allows annual applications during its program cycle.
The first phase of the plan, running from 2019 to 2023, supported a total of 440 journals. Genes & Diseases was included in the High-Start New Journal program in 2019 and was the only journal to receive an outstanding final evaluation in 2021. The second phase of the plan, which began in October 2024, received applications from 1,174 journals, with 450 journals being selected after a rigorous evaluation process, including application review, qualification checks, defense meetings, and result verification. Among these, 50 English-language flagship journals, 150 English-language tier journals, 100 Chinese-language flagship journals, 100 Chinese-language tier journals, and 50 high-start new journals were chosen, in addition to 13 journal cluster programs.
