CCG ranks in top 100 think tanks globally says Pennsylvania Report
March 18 , 2019
The Center for China and Globalization (CCG) has been once named as one of the top 100 think tanks, ranking in 94th place globally, as well as earning a spot in 13 other categories. Events in over 100 cities across the globe, including New York, Washington, London and Beijing marked the release of the University of Pennsylvania’s annual Global Go To Think Tank Index Report on Thursday, January 31st 2019.
The China release event for the report was held at the Penn Wharton China Center in downtown Beijing on Thursday morning, with almost a hundred experts, researchers, stakeholders and media representatives from China’s think tank community in attendance.
This year marks the thirteenth year of the Global Go To Think Tank Index (GGTTI), which is released by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP) at the University of Pennsylvania’s Lauder Institute. Under the directorship of James G. McGann, the objective for the GGTTI report has been to gain understanding of the role think tanks play in governments and civil societies. Having established an objective and comprehensive research system, TTCSP release an annual comprehensive evaluation and ranking of global think tanks. This year’s report contained a total of 51 rankings, spanning the four major categories of overall ranking, region, area of research and special achievements. A total of 39 Chinese think tanks featured in the rankings, with CCG ranking 14 times across all categories.
CCG once again enters the top 100 think tanks comprehensive rankings, coming in 94th, and has become the only Chinese nongovernmental think tank to feature in the top 100 list for two consecutive years.
Top Think Tanks Worldwide 2018 (Chinese Think Tank rankings)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) | 30 |
| 2 | Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) | 39 |
| 3 | China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) | 51 |
| 4 | Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) | 60 |
| 5 | Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS) | 81 |
| 6 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 94 |
| 7 | Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) | 96 |
CCG ranks 6th among Chinese think tanks who contribute to foreign policy and international affairs, the first time CCG enters this ranking category. CCG is recognized for its tremendous work in the past year researching and serving China’s international policies and communications, especially in regards to Sino-US ties
Top Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks (China Best)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) | 6 | |
| 2 | China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) | 35 | |
| 3 | Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) | 46 | |
| 4 | Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY) | 112 | |
| 5 | Charhar Institute | 115 | |
| 6 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 119 | |
Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Research Programs (China Best)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) | 27 |
| 2 | Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) | 44 |
| 3 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 62 |
| 4 | Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY) | 80 |
CCG also featured in a diverse range of lists in this year’s GGTTI rankings. In the Top Think Tanks in China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea category, which ranked 90 think tanks including 24 Chinese think tanks, CCG came in 19th, up three places from the 2017 GGTTI rankings.
Top Think Tanks in China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea (Chinese Think Tank rankings)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR) | 5 |
| 2 | Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC) | 9 |
| 3 | Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) | 12 |
| 4 | China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) | 13 |
| 5 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 19 |
| 6 | Carnegie–Tsinghua Center | 20 |
| 7 | Brookings Institution China Center | 21 |
| 8 | Institute of International and Strategic Studies (IISS) | 26 |
| 9 | China Finance 40 Forum | 32 |
| 10 | Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) | 36 |
| 11 | Pangoal Institution | 39 |
| 12 | Our Hong Kong Foundation (Hong Kong China) | 41 |
| 13 | Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) | 47 |
| 14 | Cathay Institute for Public Affairs (CIPA) | 48 |
| 15 | China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) | 53 |
| 16 | Lion Rock Institute （Hong Kong China） | 54 |
| 17 | Civic Exchange（Hong Kong China） | 64 |
| 18 | Alibaba Research Institute | 70 |
| 19 | Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY) | 77 |
| 20 | Outlook Institute, Xinhua News Agency | 78 |
| 21 | China Institute for Reform and Development (CIRD) | 79 |
| 22 | Charhar Institute | 80 |
| 23 | Hong Kong Policy Research Institute (PRI) (Hong Kong China) | 84 |
| 24 | China International Institute for Strategic Studies (CIISS) | 88 |
In the special achievement categories, CCG ranked 38th in the Best Independent Think Tank category, earning the top ranking among Chinese think tanks for the second consecutive year.
Best Independent Think Tanks (Chinese Think Tanks rankings)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 38 |
| 2 | China Reform Foundation | 110 |
| 3 | Institute for Applied International Trade (IAIT) | 115 |
CCG ranked highly in the Think Tank to Watch in 2018 list, coming in at 22nd globally and highest ranking Chinese think tank in the list for the second consecutive year.
Think Tank to Watch in 2018 (Chinese Think Tanks rankings)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 22 |
| 2 | Shanghai Advanced Institute of Finance (SAIF) | 38 |
| 3 | China Finance 40 Forum | 57 |
| 4 | Our Hong Kong Foundation (Hong Kong China) | 71 |
CCG ranked 25th in the Best Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks 2018, up 11 places from 2017, and the only Chinese think tank to be included in the list.
In addition to this, CCG is the only Chinese think tank to place in the Top Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks and Best Use of Social Media and Networks, ranking 29th and 25th respectively, showing CCG’s extraordinary policymaking credibility and online capabilities.
Best 75 Institutional Collaboration Involving Two or More Think Tanks (China Best)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 25 | |
Top 70 Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks (China Best)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 29 | |
60 Think Tanks with the Best Use of the Internet (China Best)
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 25 | |
CCG has placed policy research and policymaking at the center of its activities for a long time, pushing itself in various subjects and fields, and was one of a select few Chinese think tanks to be recognised by GGTTI in these areas. CCG was ranked 80th, 68th and 110th, respectively, in the Think Tanks with Outstanding Policy-Oriented Research Programs, Think Tanks with the Most Significant Impact on Public Policy and Top Foreign Policy and International Affairs Think Tanks.
Management and operation are as important as policy research for think tanks, especially for nongovernmental think tanks like CCG that need to source funding and support. The success of a think tank’s operation and management can also be a standard to measure the development level of a think tank. The GGTTI has a category, Top Think Tanks with Annual Operating Budgets of Less Than $5 Million USD, which pertains to this, this year CCG ranked 47th in this category, a remarkable acheivement.
Top Think Tanks with Annual Operating Budgets of Less Than USD5 Million
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY) | 35 | |
| 2 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 47 | |
In terms of innovation, CCG ranks 44th in the list of Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by a Think Tank and was ranked first in the list of selected Chinese think tanks. CCG also ranked 68th in the Best Use of Social Media and Networks, one of only two Chinese think tanks ranked in the list. CCG ranks 48th in the list of “Best Use of Media (Print or Electronic), again one of the few Chinese think tanks selected for the list.
Best New Idea or Paradigm Developed by a Think Tank
| Order | Think Tank | Rank | |
| 1 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 44 | |
| 2 | Institute of Modern International Relations (IMIR) | 48 | |
Best Use of Social Media and Networks
| Order | Think Tank | Rank |
| 1 | China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE) | 46 |
| 2 | Center for China and Globalization (CCG) | 68 |
As part of the ranking process of the GGTTI Report 2018, all 8,162 think tanks listed in the TTCSP Global Think Tank database were contacted and encouraged to participate in the nomination and ranking process in 2018. In addition to over 68,191 journalists, policy makers, public and private donors, and functional and regional area specialists on the TTCSP lists were invited to participate and over 3,750 fully or partially completed the nomination and ranking surveys. Finally, a group of peers and experts was asked to help rank and review the list of public policy research centers of distinction for 2018. To refine and validate the generated ranking lists, TTCSP assembled Expert Panels comprised of hundreds of members from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines. It is this vigorous selection process which sets the GGTTI apart as the leading think tank ranking index.
This year, TTCSP invited over 300 cooperative agencies and organizations from countries all around the world, including 255 think tanks, to organize think tank activities in about 75 countries and 125 cities to mark the release of the report. Dozens of internationally renowned think tank representatives and experts from a variety of fields participated in the presentations in New York and Washington, including John R. Allen, President of the Brookings Institution, Kenneth R. Weinstein, President and CEO of the Hudson Institute, Sarah Rosen Wartell, President of the Urban Institute, Paul Salem, President of the Washington Middle East Institute, and other think tanks. James G. McGann, lead on the report and head of TTCSP, also attended the seminar in Washington to officially announce the release. The occurrence of events all around the globe marking the annual launch of the report have led many to call GGTTI Report release day as “International Think Tank Day”, a truly important day in the international think tank community.
CCG has made great progress in various fields and been widely recognized for its work both at home and abroad. 2018 has seen CCG’s domestic impact continuously grow.
In August of 2018 CGG received the great honor of being granted “Special Consultative Status” by the UN’s Economic and Social Council, the first non-governmental Chinese think tank to be granted this UN status.
In the China Think Tank Index’s 2018 Development Report, published by Nanjing University and Guangming Daily, CCG was again named the top non-governmental think tank for the third year running. CCG was also presented with the “Annual Outstanding Achievement Award” and award for “Best Events,” and steamed ahead of other non-governmental think tanks in its PAI (Product-Activity-Impact) ranking.
| Think Tank | Overall PAI Ranking | Product | Activity | Impact |
| Center for China and Globalization | 4217.5 | 3354.5 | 836 | 27 |
| The Charhar Institute | 132 | 108 | 24 | 0 |
| China Center for International Economic Exchanges | 121.5 | 1.5 | 120 | 0 |
| China Region Development & Reform Institute | 127 | 52 | 75 | 0 |
| China Silk Road Valley Institute | 783.5 | 783.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Grandview Institution | 503 | 193 | 259 | 57 |
| Guangdong University Of Finance & Economics Southern China Business Center | 179 | 128 | 49 | 2 |
| Intellisia | 583.5 | 321.5 | 257 | 5 |
| Pangoal | 698.5 | 412.5 | 286 | 0 |
| Shanghai Finance Institute | 103 | 58 | 45 | 0 |
In addition to this, in the China Think Tank Impact Report 2018 CCG saw major improvements in comparison to its 2017 rankings, especially in the areas of social impact and public opinion impact. CCG was named the most influential non-governmental think tank, and was the only non-governmental think tank to rank in the categories of policy impact, public opinion impact and international impact.
| Category | Non- governmental Think Tank Impact |
Overall Impact |
Public Opinion Impact |
Policy Impact | Societal Impact |
International Impact | |||
| 2018 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 3 | 6 | |||
| 2017 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 3 | 10 | |||
CCG’s 2017 and 2018 China Think Tank Impact Report ranking comparison
Furthermore, CCG’s role in the well-known “Belt and Road” initiative has progressed over the last year, with CCG gaining membership in the Belt and Road Research Federation. Our think tank was also awarded with the “National Policy Award for Consultation by a Chinese Think Tank” by the Chinese Academy of Social Science, the only non-governmental think tank to receive this award.
In December of last year, China Newsweek, a peer magazine of US Newsweek, gave CCG its “Think Tank of the Year” award, and CCG was announced as the “Best Government Communicator – University or Think Tank” award by the new media group Pengpai, two more incredible achievements for us here at CCG.
Moreover, CCG achieved great success in its national policy work this year with the official announcement that the Chinese government will establish a State Immigration Administration which CCG has been working on for last decade. Following the announcement of this new government body, CCG has been tasked with conducting follow-up research to aid in its establishing and operations. This news comes after our promotion of this policy throughout our 10 year existence and serves to represent the efficacy and impact of our work here at CCG at the highest levels of government. In addition to this, CCG was a founding member of the Ministry of Finance’s “US Research Think Tank Alliance” established this year, the only private think tank to do so.
At the same time, Dr. Wang Huiyao, President of CCG, has been presented with a variety of awards throughout the year. These include receiving the “Outstanding Individual Award” and being selected as a winner of the “40 years of Chinese Brands, 40 Key Figures Award” at the 10th annual meeting of the Returned Chinese Overseas Federation, as well as being named one of the 40 most influential people in Chinese think tanks by China Youth Online. CCG Secretary General, Dr Miao Lu has also been recognized for her contributions to CCG, the Chinese think tank community and academic circles this year. She was named as the Returned Chinese Overseas Federation’s “Think Tank Expert” and won the Chinese Journal of Management Science’s annual “Management Talent Award”, as well as being selected as a Lien Ying Chow Scholar by Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.
