On the morning of August 26, 2025, the Chinese Materials Research Society (CMRS) and Elsevier successfully co-hosted the "CMRS–Elsevier Joint Symposium on Materials Journal Development Strategy" at the CMRS headquarters in Beijing. With the mission of building a world-class academic platform, CMRS organized this symposium to facilitate in-depth discussions on the development strategy of newly launched academic journals, explore innovative models for international publishing collaboration, and promote high-level academic exchange and dissemination of research outcomes in materials science. The symposium marked a new phase of strategic collaboration between CMRS and Elsevier in academic publishing and laid a solid foundation for the long-term development of two new journals: Review of Materials Research (RMR) and Transactions of Materials Research (TMR).

The Chinese delegates in attendance included Professor Wei Bingbo, President of CMRS and Editor-in-Chief of RMR; Professor Zhang Zengzhi, Secretary-General of CMRS and Editor-in-Chief of TMR; as well as TMR Associate Editors Professor Song Xiaoyan and Professor Zhai Wei, and RMR Associate Editors Professor Yang Sen and Professor Chen Renjie. The Elsevier delegation consisted of three Senior Publishers—Marlene Silva, Dr. Zhu Zhiyuan, and Dr. Morgane Ma—along with several other experienced editors and publishing experts. Participants engaged in thorough exchanges on trends in academic publishing, the positioning of the journals within the global materials science community, and future development goals, sharing insights and practical case studies from their respective experiences.

During the symposium, delegates held detailed discussions on the development strategy for the new journals over the next two to three years. Professor Wei Bingbo emphasized that as important vehicles for academic publishing in materials science, both RMR and TMR are entering a critical window of opportunity. He stressed that by establishing clear development plans, optimizing editorial and publishing processes, strengthening academic standards, and leveraging the international expertise and resources of both CMRS and Elsevier, the two journals have the potential to rapidly enhance their academic impact and secure a significant position in global materials science publishing. Dr. Marlene Silva noted that RMR and TMR are expected to be included in Scopus next year, with quantitative evaluation metrics available within a few months and Impact Factors anticipated within two years, providing clear milestones for the journals’ development.

Participants generally agreed that the success of RMR and TMR depends not only on high-quality submissions and a rigorous peer-review system but also on attentiveness to reader needs, improved publishing efficiency, and continuous strengthening of the journals’ academic branding. Experts suggested that the journals could enhance their visibility and international influence by organizing special thematic issues, commissioning perspective and overview articles from editorial team members, promoting international co-editing projects, and integrating academic conferences with journal activities—all aimed at introducing the journals to the broader research community through unique perspectives. Additionally, experts unanimously emphasized that reinforcing academic ethics and standardizing publishing processes are essential for the long-term healthy development of the journals, with internationalization and standardization serving as core strategies for their operations.

The successful hosting of this symposium not only strengthened the strategic partnership between CMRS and Elsevier but also injected new momentum into the high-quality development of academic publishing in materials science. Moving forward, both parties will continue to enhance communication and collaboration, explore new cooperative models and areas, and further elevate the academic influence and international standing of the journals, providing the global materials research community with superior publishing services and platforms for exchange.