Institutionalization of Open Science in China: University-Industry Research Collaboration as a Case Study Open Science (OS) is reshaping research practices globally, and China’s OS movement is no exception. While it is prominently featured in policy documents like the revised Science and Technology Progress Law of 2021, its actual implementation—for instance Open Access (OA) publishing and data sharing—remains underexplored. This paper, coauthored with Fengyi Lin (Peking University), delves into these issues through a multiple case study of University-Industry Research Collaboration (UIRC) in China.

Through an analysis of two case studies on research collaborations between European companies and top-tier Chinese universities, we address two research questions: (1) What norms govern the adoption of OS practices within metropolitan Chinese universities? (2) How are these norms reflected in the broader institutionalization of OS across China? UIRC provides an optimal context for this investigation, capturing the varied norms surrounding openness and shedding light on the commercial aspects of OS. Drawing on institutional logics and a case study approach, we analyze 23 interviews, bibliometric data, UIRC communications, and policy documents.

Our findings explore who benefits from OS, who advocates for its adoption, and why. This research not only highlights the current state of OS institutionalization in China but also offers insights into the intersection of academic and commercial interests in shaping the future of Open Science.