An information channel under technological blockade: The science and technology information system in China (1956–1966)

Abstract

In the 1950s, aided by the Soviet Union, the Chinese government established a multilevel science and technology (S&T) information system covering many regions and professional departments across the country. The system's primary objective was to improve scientific research conditions and promote information exchange. With the deterioration of the Western technological blockade in the 1960s, the system's primary focus shifted to the acquisition of foreign S&T information. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the set-up, growth and activities of China's S&T information system between 1956 and 1966, with particular emphasis on the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information, its core establishment. The article examines how China facilitated S&T exchanges, despite the challenging international environment, and the role of the S&T information system as a crucial information pathway during China's early years under the People's Republic.