HowNet, the concept of national knowledge infrastructure, was put forward by the World Bank in 1998. CNKI project is an information construction project aimed at realizing the dissemination, enjoyment and value-added utilization of knowledge resources in the whole society. Initiated by Tsinghua University and Tsinghua Tongfang, it was established in June 1999.

Specific objectives of China HowNet project:

First, integrate knowledge and information resources on a large scale to improve the comprehensive and value-added utilization value of resources as a whole;

Second, build a service platform for Internet diffusion and knowledge resource appreciation, and provide information conditions for resource sharing, digital learning and knowledge innovation for the whole society;

The third is to build a platform for the in-depth development and utilization of knowledge resources and provide information means for knowledge management and knowledge service for all sectors of society;

The fourth is to create a market environment and commercial mechanism for the production and publishing departments of knowledge resources to publish and distribute on the Internet, and vigorously promote the modernization and leap-forward development of cultural publishing and industry.