In the contemporary landscape of media convergence and rapid information dissemination, traditional industry journals face a series of pressing challenges. As information updates at an unprecedented speed, industry journals often fail to keep pace with the latest developments in their respective industries, resulting in content that appears outdated by the time it reaches readers. Another pressing challenge lies in pertinence. Many journals struggle to adequately address the specific and evolving needs of industry professionals, resulting in content that is either overly general or misaligned with practical demands. In this context, the 2015 "Opinions on Strengthening the Construction of New-Type Think Tanks with Chinese Characteristics" emerged as a crucial policy framework guiding the transformation of industry journals. This document outlines a clear vision for building a new-type think tank system designed to serve the scientific decision-making of the Party and the government. A key emphasis is placed on the need for think tank achievements with both theoretical depth and practical value, which resonates strongly with the core attribute of industry journals over their long-term development: "rooted in the industry and serving practice". This alignment provide a solid foundation for industry journals to explore transformative pathways by linking their content production with the translation of think tank research outcomes. Industry journals, as regular publications dedicated to specific industries or specific fields within industries, possess unique advantages that make them well-suited to transform into think-tank-type journals and engage in collaborative development with think tanks. In terms of problem orientation, they demonstrate acute awareness of practical challenges within their industries, enabling focused attention on topics of substantial significance. Regarding policy transformation, these journals effectively interpret and communicate policy implications to industry practitioners, bridging the gap between policy formulation and implementation. The environment for collaborative development between industry journals and think tanks has matured significantly. Industry journals serve as valuable platforms for disseminating think tank research findings, enabling broader industry reach. Conversely, think tanks empower industry journals' capacity for precise topic selection, leveraging their research capabilities and strategic insight to identify critical industry development issues. This mutual benefit establishes a foundation for robust collaboration. To achieve collaboration, several key pathways are identified. Establishing an "industry think tank alliance" boosts regular cooperation by enabling exchanges, joint research, and resource sharing, thereby generating more impactful outputs. "Think tank columns" in journals, with focused analysis, aid transformation and bridge readers and authors. Furthermore, integrating talent to build a "talent community" enhances content quality, promotes research innovation, and expands the influence of industry journals and think tanks. In conclusion, by embracing these collaborative development pathways, industry journals can successfully advance their transformation, overcome the existing challenges, and play a vital role in serving the construction of new - type think tanks with Chinese characteristics. Such synergy between industry journals and think tanks not only creates mutual benefits but also contributes to the broader development and progress of the industries they serve.