Published today, the Nature Publishing Index (NPI) Global supplement ranks countries and institutions according to their output of primary research articles in the 18 Nature research journals in 2012, and includes data from 2008-2011 for comparison.

According to the Index, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) broke into the global top 20 scientific institutions in 2012, up at 12th from 22nd in 2011. The Academy had 91 primary research articles published in all Nature journals, compared with 62 articles in 2011. The CAS is number one in China in each of the four subject areas (life sciences, physics, chemistry and earth and environmental sciences); and the University of Science and Technology of China, a university affiliated to the CAS ranks number two in physics.

Chinese mainland came sixth among the top 100 countries and areas for scientific research outputs according to the NPI, following France with only a slim margin. Authors based in Chinese mainland contributed 8.5 % (303) of all research papers published in Nature research journals in 2012. China also had nine institutions in the Top 200 research institutes worldwide according to this year’s NPI – up from three in 2011.

"The NPI shows how national investments, institutions and cities have contributed to China’s rapid scientific expansion. It also provides indicators that the country, traditionally strong in physical sciences, is making gains in high quality life sciences research,” said the official announcement of the Nature Publishing Group.

Founded in 1869, Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a publisher of high impact scientific and medical information in print and online. NPG publishes journals, online databases and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences and clinical medicine.

The Global Nature Publishing Index 2012 supplement is available online at http://www.natureasia.com/en/publishing-index/global/ and is published as a supplement to Nature today. The ranking is a snapshot based on papers published in 2012, with 2008-2011 data also included to show trends.