Global South Researchers Cite China’s 2022 Open Access Articles Over 700,000 Times

Data compiled by Springer Nature reveal that Chinese Golden Open Access articles published in 2022 have been referenced more than 742,000 times by scientists working in the Global South. Overall, the 2022 cohort attracted over 1.53 million citations from researchers outside China, representing roughly 40 percent of all citations received.

The white paper, named “Impact through openness: Chinese Golden Open Access boosts global innovation and benefits the Global South,” highlights how making research freely available on publisher platforms expands its accessibility worldwide. Golden Open Access eliminates subscription fees, allowing anyone with internet access to read, download and share the content.

These citation patterns demonstrate that open‑access publishing is opening doors for researchers in developing nations, who can now engage more readily with cutting‑edge Chinese studies. The heightened visibility also contributes to a more balanced global research ecosystem, where knowledge flows more freely across borders.

Arnaud Jacobs, president of Springer Nature’s Greater China region, remarked that the strong uptake among Global South scholars illustrates open access’s capacity to foster inclusive scientific dialogue and to drive collaborative innovation on an international scale.