The competitiveness of scientific research and measures to increase it

In this paper, the consideration of the problem of the competitiveness of scientific research as an independent scientific line in the context of the science of science, whose main methodological instruments could be the adapted economic concepts of competitiveness and clusters, as well as mathematical models of competitive interactionsyesBelgorod State Universit

DNA Repair: a spatially rooted analysis of the development of a scientific community

International audienceOur aim is to track the emergence of the DNA Repair field (1964-1975) using both bibliometric data and historical sources (interviews, archives, historical accounts). We intend to focus on the geographical diffusion of the research specialty: how did the scientific interest for DNA Repair mechanisms spread at the worldwide level? What role the first scientists specialized in the field play in the diffusion process? In order to localize specialized teams, we follow the use of the keyword “DNA Repair” in scientific publications indexed in bibliometric databases. At first, in analyzing a bibliometric corpus derived from Scopus we draw a general overview of the DNA Repair field geography during the emergence stage (1965-1975). For each territory, we localize the different teams involved in the scientific specialty from the beginning. In a second time, we focus on pioneers’ trajectories. In following individual trajectories with the help of both bibliometric materials and qualitative sources, we shed light on networks of places critical for the field’s diffusion

Air pollution research: visualization of research activity using density-equalizing mapping and scientometric benchmarking procedures

Background: Due to constantly rising air pollution levels as well as an increasing awareness of the hazardousness of air pollutants, new laws and rules have recently been passed. Although there has been a large amount of research on this topic, bibliometric data is still to be collected. Thus this study provides a scientometric approach to the material published on this subject so far. Methods: For this purpose, data retrieved from the "Web of Science" provided by the Thomson Scientific Institute was analyzed and visualized both with density-equalizing methods and classic data-processing methods such as tables and charts. Results: For the time span between 1955 and 2006, 26,253 items were listed and related to the topic of air pollution, published by 124 countries in 24 different languages. General citation activity has been constantly increasing since the beginning of the examined period. However, beginning with the year 1991, citation levels have been rising exponentially each year, reaching 39,220 citations in the year 2006. The United States, the UK and Germany were the three most productive countries in the area, with English and German ranked first and second in publishing languages, followed by French. An article published by Dockery, Pope, Xu et al. was both the most cited in total numbers and in average citation rate. J. Schwartz was able to claim the highest total number of citations on his publications, while D.W. Dockery has the highest citation rate per publication. As to the subject areas the items are assigned with, the most item were published in Environmental Sciences, followed by Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences and Public, Environmental & Occupational Health. Nine out of the ten publishing journals with more than 300 entries dealt with environmental interests and one dealt with epidemiology. Conclusions: Using the method of density-equalizing mapping and further common data processing procedures, it can be concluded that scientific work concerning air pollution and related topics enjoys unbrokenly growing scientific interest. This can be observed both in publication numbers and in citation activity

Snakebite Envenoming – A Combined Density Equalizing Mapping and Scientometric Analysis of the Publication History

Estimates suggest that more than 25,000 to 125,000 people die annually from snakebite envenomation worldwide. In contrast to this major disease burden, thorough bibliometric studies do not exist so far that illustrate the overall research activity over a long time span. Therefore, the NewQIS-platform conducted an analysis on snakebite envenoming using the Thomson Reuters database Web of Science. To determine and assess changes regarding the scientific activities and to specifically address the more recent situation we analyzed two time intervals (t). During the first time interval from 1900 to 2007 (t1) 13,015 publications (p) were identified. In the following period (2008–2016 = t2) 4,982 publications were identified by the same search strategy. They originate from 114 (t1) respectively 121 countries (t2), with the USA (p = 3518), Brazil (p = 1100) and Japan (p = 961) being most productive in the first period, and the USA (p = 1087), Brazil (p = 991) and China (p = 378) in the second period, respectively. Setting the publication numbers in relation to GDP/capita, Brazil leads with 92 publications per 10,000 Int$GDP/capita, followed by India with 79 publications per 10000 Int$GDP/capita (t1). Comparing the country’s publication activity with the Human Development Index level indicates that the majority of the publications is published by highly developed countries. When calculating the average citation rates (citations per published item = CR) mainly European countries show the highest ranks: From 1900–2007 Sweden ranks first with a CR = 27, followed by the Netherlands (CR = 24.8), Switzerland (CR = 23), Spain, Austria and the USA (CR = 22). From 2008 to 2016 the highest rate achieves Switzerland with a value of 24.6, followed by Belgium (CR = 18.1), Spain (CR = 16.7), Costa Rica (CR = 14.9) and Netherlands (CR = 14). Compared with this, the USA was placed at rank 13 (CR = 9,5). In summary, the present study represents the first density-equalizing map projection and in-depth scientometric analysis of the global research output on snakebites and its venoms. So it draws a sketch of the worldwide publication architecture and indicates that countries with a high incidence of snakebites and a low economical level still need to be empowered in carrying out research in this area

The Competitiveness of Scientific Research and Measures to Increase It

Despite that fact that governments bear the responsibility for the level of scientific research and almost entirely finance fundamental research in their countries, well developed and interconnected global markets of scientific research, mental labor (researchers), large research infrastructures, scientific periodicals, and training programs for scientists exist. Since competitiveness also exists, the notion of the competitiveness of the particular objects and agents that compete in these scientific markets can be introduced. For indices of their competitiveness, we can take various ratings (competitiveness indices) represented by publication and patent activity, citation frequency, the impact factors of journals, etc. The competitiveness of fields and lines of scientific research, which are closely connected with the dynamics of scientific frontiers and clusters of publications, should be distinguished from the competitiveness of particular studies represented by the citation frequency of corresponding publications. For example, the high competitiveness of medicobiologic investigations as a whole, as well as of studies in the field of nanosciences and information communication technologies is evident today all over the world. This is represented by a rapid growth in the number of papers and, consequently, of the journals of these types as well, and their frequent citation; i.e., these fields and lines of investigations are characterized by rapidly developing scientific frontiers and clusters of publications. At the same time, other fields and lines of investigations, in which no scientific breakthroughs take place for long periods, come into the stage of "satiation" in accordance with the logarithmic model of growth and later also enter into the stage of "dying," in accordance with the economic concept of a life cycle. Short life cycles of scientific research are typical for marginal and deadlocked fields and lines. We take the term marginal to mean fields and lines of investigations that are conducted apart from the context of the worldwide tendencies for developing these fields, and without regard for accumulated scientific knowledge, although in some cases such investigations can involve scientific breakthroughs and discoveries, especially if they are made by extraordinary researchers. Naturally, the continuous processes of knowledge specialization and differentiation also bring about processes of their synthesis, or interdisciplinary knowledge. It is well known that scientific breakthroughs and discoveries take place, mainly, at the boundaries of science. Examples of such interdisciplinary knowledge are synergetics, nanosciences, ecology, etc. Quantitatively, each field and line of scientific research is described by its cluster of publications, in which a kernel (works that laid the foundation for this cluster) and the subsequent most frequently cited works can be specified. The more extensive a cluster of publications is, the more developed and competitive is a given field or line of investigation. This competitiveness is represented by better opportunities to obtain additional financial support and researchers from other (less competitive) fields and lines of investigations, as well as attracting university graduates that are just beginning their scientific research. It is reasonable that the problem of competitiveness of scientific research can itself be a particular line of scientific investigation in the context of the science of science. For its basic methodological instruments, the adapted economic concepts of competitiveness and cluster

Classification of Individual Age-Phase Dynamics Profiles of Researchers’ Scientific Activity

In the present study, investigations of the relationship between scientists’ age and their publication activity are discussed in the context of the Age-Phase Dynamics (APhD) model of scientific activity and performance. Evaluation of APhD-profiles of several renowned scientists from different historical periods, each conducting research in their individual discipline are investigated and presented here as derived from the scientists’ bibliographies. Examples of general APhD graphs as well as their variations reflecting various subjective circumstances and external conditions during the scientist’s career are shown. The possibility of further integration of scientist’s personal APhD-profile within the publication profiles of small research groups and laboratories or large groups of scientists (meso level), as well as a combination of these group profiles with citation indices are discussed.Проблема зависимости продуктивности и качества научных работ от возраста ученого является одной из центральных проблем объективизации методологии оценивания эффективности научной деятельности на микроуровне. В данной работе обсуждаются результаты исследований возрастной динамики публикационной активности ученого в контексте модели фазовой динамики научной деятельности – «Age Phase Dynamics model» (APhD). Приведены предварительные данные изучения APhD-профилограмм персональных библиографий научных трудов ряда известных в мире ученых, которые вели исследования в различных областях науки и в разные исторические периоды. Обсуждаются типы модели APhD, отражающие как общие закономерности, так и особенные проявления эволюции научной продуктивности ученого с возрастом. Подчеркнута необходимость разработки корректной типологии индивидуальных APhD-профилей и процессов их иерархической интеграции, а также их взаимосвязи с наукометрическими индикаторами, корреляции между сотрудничеством и публикационной продуктивностью на различных фазах научной деятельности исследователя и др., что требует специальных подходов, в частности, использования современных методов моделирования сложных систем.Работа выполнена в рамках проекта ЕС «BILAT-UKR*AINA» «Усиление двустороннего научно-технологического партнерства с Украиной» Программы FP7-INCO-2012-2.2 (грант № 311839). The authors would like to thank Nelly Videnina, senior scientist at G.M. Dobrov Center for Science & Technology Potential and Science History Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kiev), for her assistance in data collection and processing

Building professional discourse in emerging markets: Language, context and the challenge of sensemaking

Using ethnographic evidence from the former Soviet republics, this article examines a relatively new and mainly unobserved in the International Business (IB) literature phenomenon of communication disengagement that manifests itself in many emerging markets. We link it to the deficiencies of the local professional business discourse rooted in language limitations reflecting lack of experience with the market economy. This hampers cognitive coherence between foreign and local business entities, adding to the liability of foreignness as certain instances of professional experience fail to find adequate linguistic expression, and complicates cross-cultural adjustments causing multi-national companies (MNCs) financial losses. We contribute to the IB literature by examining cross-border semantic sensemaking through a retrospectively constructed observational study. We argue that a relative inadequacy of the national professional idiom is likely to remain a feature of business environment in post-communist economies for some time and therefore should be factored into business strategies of MNCs. Consequently, we recommend including discursive hazards in the risk evaluation of international projects

Intellectual property rights and innovation activities in China : evidence from patents and publications

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The Geography of Scientific Collaboration

Science is increasingly defined by multidimensional collaborative networks. Despite the unprecedented growth of scientific collaboration around the globe – the collaborative turn – geography still matters for the cognitive enterprise. This book explores how geography conditions scientific collaboration and how collaboration affects the spatiality of science. This book offers a complex analysis of the spatial aspects of scientific collaboration, addressing the topic at a number of levels: individual, organizational, urban, regional, national, and international. Spatial patterns of scientific collaboration are analysed along with their determinants and consequences. By combining a vast array of approaches, concepts, and methodologies, the volume offers a comprehensive theoretical framework for the geography of scientific collaboration. The examples of scientific collaboration policy discussed in the book are taken from the European Union, the United States, and China. Through a number of case studies the authors analyse the background, development and evaluation of these policies. This book will be of interest to researchers in diverse disciplines such as regional studies, scientometrics, R&D policy, socio-economic geography and network analysis. It will also be of interest to policymakers, and to managers of research organisations