China to Open 10 Major Scientific Facilities to Global Researchers in 2026
China has announced plans to open ten major scientific research facilities to international researchers in 2026, expanding opportunities for global scientific collaboration. The initiative was unveiled during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum (ZGC Forum) Annual Conference in Beijing. By granting access to several of the country’s most advanced research infrastructures, the programme aims to strengthen international cooperation in science and technology while supporting joint research on fundamental and frontier scientific challenges.
According to an announcement reported by China’s central government news portal, the facilities will be made available to researchers from around the world as part of a broader effort to build a more open global research environment. The initiative aligns with China’s approach to strengthening international partnerships in science and technology, similar to collaborative efforts highlighted in initiatives such as Thailand and China’s growing cooperation in AI and high‑tech research.
Major research infrastructures to be opened
The facilities include several large-scale scientific platforms designed to support advanced experimentation and long-term research. Among them is the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), located in Guizhou Province in southwest China. FAST is one of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes and plays an important role in astronomical observation and deep space research.
Other facilities scheduled to open include the Space Environment Simulation and Research Infrastructure in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China, which enables scientists to study how space conditions affect spacecraft and materials. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) in Anhui Province will also be accessible to international teams, supporting research into controlled nuclear fusion and advanced plasma physics.
Supporting international open science initiatives
The programme supports the Action Plan for International Cooperation in Open Science, launched in 2025 by China and international partners. The plan aims to promote an open, fair, equitable and non-discriminatory global environment for scientific and technological development. By opening national research infrastructure to global scholars, policymakers hope to enable wider participation in large-scale experiments and accelerate the exchange of knowledge across borders.
This approach reflects a broader trend across the region to build collaborative research ecosystems. For example, cross-border initiatives such as Vietnam’s international AI partnerships supporting digital transformation and the joint AI laboratory launched by Indonesia and China to advance healthcare research demonstrate how shared scientific infrastructure and expertise can support national innovation strategies.
Alignment with China’s long-term development strategy
The initiative is also consistent with the outline of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) for national economic and social development, released earlier in March 2026. The plan emphasises the creation of an open and globally competitive innovation ecosystem and calls for stronger collaboration between Chinese researchers and international scientific communities.
By enabling access to large-scale research infrastructure, Chinese authorities aim to support joint scientific exploration and encourage researchers worldwide to collaborate on complex scientific questions. Policymakers view such partnerships as an important mechanism for addressing long-term scientific challenges and strengthening global scientific capacity.
