83,332 research outputs found
Investigating the interplay between fundamentals of national research systems: performance, investments and international collaborations
We discuss, at the macro-level of nations, the contribution of research
funding and rate of international collaboration to research performance, with
important implications for the science of science policy. In particular, we
cross-correlate suitable measures of these quantities with a
scientometric-based assessment of scientific success, studying both the average
performance of nations and their temporal dynamics in the space defined by
these variables during the last decade. We find significant differences among
nations in terms of efficiency in turning (financial) input into
bibliometrically measurable output, and we confirm that growth of international
collaboration positively correlate with scientific success, with significant
benefits brought by EU integration policies. Various geo-cultural clusters of
nations naturally emerge from our analysis. We critically discuss the possible
factors that potentially determine the observed patterns
Mapping the Evolution of "Clusters": A Meta-analysis
This paper presents a meta-analysis of the âcluster literatureâ contained in scientific journals from 1969 to 2007. Thanks to an original database we study the evolution of a stream of literature which focuses on a research object which is both a theoretical puzzle and an empirical widespread evidence. We identify different growth stages, from take-off to development and maturity. We test the existence of a life-cycle within the authorships and we discover the existence of a substitutability relation between different collaborative behaviours. We study the relationships between a âspatialâ and an âindustrialâ approach within the textual corpus of cluster literature and we show the existence of a âpredatoryâ interaction. We detect the relevance of clustering behaviours in the location of authors working on clusters and in measuring the influence of geographical distance in co-authorship. We measure the extent of a convergence process of the vocabulary of scientists working on clusters.Cluster, Life-Cycle, Cluster Literature, Textual Analysis, Agglomeration, Co-Authorship
Making Forest Values Work: Enhancing Multi-Dimensional Perspectives towards Sustainable Forest Management
Background and Purpose: Sustainability, sustainable development and sustainable forest management are terms that are commonly, and interchangeably used in the forest industry, however their meaning take on different connotations, relative to varying subject matter. The aim of this paper is to look at these terms in a more comprehensive way, relative to the current ideology of sustainability in forestry.Materials and Methods: This paper applies a literature review of the concepts of: i) sustainable development; ii) sustainable forest management; and iii) economic and non-economic valuation. The concepts are viewed through a historical dimension of shifting paradigms, originating from production- to service-based forestry. Values are discussed through a review of general value theory and spatial, cultural and temporal differences in valuation. Along the evolution of these concepts, we discuss their applicability as frameworks to develop operational guidelines for forest management, relative to the multi-functionality of forests.results and conclusions: Potential discrepancies between the conceptual origins of sustainable development and sustainable forest management are highlighted, relative to how they have been interpreted and diffused as new perceptions on forest value for the human society. We infer the current paradigm may not reflect the various dimensions adequately as its implementation is likely to be more related to the distribution of power between stakeholders, rather than the value stakeholdersâ place on the various forest attributes
Research trends in nanotechnology studies across geo-economic areas
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the current temporal and spatial research trajectories in nanoscience and nanotechnology studies in order to display the worldwide patterns of research fields across main economic players. The results show the leadership of Europe and North America in nanotechnology research, although the role of China has been growing over time. Current nanotechnology studies have been growing in chemistry and medicine because of applications of nanomaterials mainly in Chemical Engineering, Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Results also show a relative higher scientific performance in nanotechnology research production by South Korea in comparison with Japan and other geo-economic areas. This research can provide vital findings to support research and innovation policies aimed at improving the development of this technological system for modern patterns of economic growth.Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, Technological Trajectories, Research Trends, Data Mining, Comparative Innovation Systems, Technological System
How the Taxonomy of Products Drives the Economic Development of Countries
We introduce an algorithm able to reconstruct the relevant network structure
on which the time evolution of country-product bipartite networks takes place.
The significant links are obtained by selecting the largest values of the
projected matrix. We first perform a number of tests of this filtering
procedure on synthetic cases and a toy model. Then we analyze the bipartite
network constituted by countries and exported products, using two databases for
a total of almost 50 years. It is then possible to build a hierarchically
directed network, in which the taxonomy of products emerges in a natural way.
We study the influence of the structure of this taxonomy network on countries'
development; in particular, guided by an example taken from the
industrialization of South Korea, we link the structure of the taxonomy network
to the empirical temporal connections between product activations, finding that
the most relevant edges for countries' development are the ones suggested by
our network. These results suggest paths in the product space which are easier
to achieve, and so can drive countries' policies in the industrialization
process.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure
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