On December 1, 2025, the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) announced it will discontinue access to Web of Science, one of the world's largest commercial bibliometric databases owned by Clarivate Analytics, starting January 1, 2026. This includes its Core Collection and Journal Citation Reports.
The decision aligns with CNRS's long-standing commitment to open science and qualitative research evaluation. Since releasing its first Open Science Roadmap in 2019, CNRS has actively promoted open-access policies and sought alternatives to quantitative metrics for assessing scientific work.
Alain Schuhl, Deputy CEO for Science at CNRS, criticized reliance on journal-based metrics, stating, "Research has long been constrained by indicators unrelated to the intrinsic quality of scientific progress. Using journal prestige as a benchmark is an oversimplification that should no longer be tolerated."
This move follows CNRS's 2024 cancellation of its subscription to Elsevier's Scopus database. By dropping Web of Science, the institution expects to save €1.4 million annually, redirecting funds toward open-access initiatives, including database development.
CNRS now encourages researchers to adopt open alternatives like OpenAlex, which offers broader journal coverage—including non-English publications—and addresses gaps in disciplines such as humanities, computer science, and mathematics.
Schuhl acknowledged OpenAlex's current metadata limitations but expressed confidence in its rapid improvement, noting CNRS's active role in enhancing the platform. He emphasized the need for collective action: "Developing open databases is now a priority. We urge all partners to join us in moving beyond Web of Science."
This shift aims to reclaim scientific autonomy and foster transparency through open tools, particularly amid growing fragility in global research collaboration.
For more details, visit: https://www.cnrs.fr/en/update/cnrs-breaking-free-web-science
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