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China has launched its first ever index system to assess the research productivity of scientific institutions in bioscience and basic medical science, which experts believe will catalyze the development of a complete domestic scientific evaluation system.

Launched by the Shanghai Information Center for Life Sciences (SICLS) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences on Sept. 19, the π index (PI, Productivity Index) was independently developed by Chinese experts. More than 600 research fellows participated in the system’s online surveys, Thepaper.cn reported on Sept. 20.

“The π index has combined qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods. Its data evaluation is based on 119 scientific periodicals focusing on bioscience and basic medical science, and the influence of the research was also taken into consideration. We hope the new evaluation system can objectively assess scientific institutions’ productivity, research quality and scientific contributions,” said Yu Jianrong, director of SICLS, in an interview with Thepaper.cn.

“Though there are many evaluation systems in foreign countries to assess the productivity of scientific institutions, China still needs to work on its own system,” said Li Dangsheng, vice director of SICLS.

Among the 100 scientific institutions that score highest on the π index, 48 are in the U.S. The U.K. ranks in second place with 10 institutions, while only three Chinese research centers made the top 100, according to a report released by SICLS on Sept. 19.

“Before the new system was released, I only had a vague understanding of the distinction between China and other developed countries in bioscience and basic medical science. The index shows that we still have a long way to go to catch up with countries including the U.S.,” said Zhang Xu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.