The Chinese Academy of Sciences topped the Nature Index 2021 Annual Tables, which highlights the institutions and countries that dominate high-quality research in the natural science sector. Harvard University took the second spot, followed by Max Planck Society in Germany and French National Centre for Scientific Research.

By tracking the affiliations of academic achievements from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020, Nature Index tables evaluated an institution's or country's share of articles published in the 82 prestigious scientific journals selected by an independent panel of experts, covering life sciences, physical sciences, chemistry, and Earth and environmental sciences, according to its official website.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences has been crowned for nine consecutive years, and continued to hold a seemingly unassailable lead in share in 2020, more than twice that of its nearest competitor, Harvard University.

Let's take a look at the top 10 academic institutions by Nature Index.