Collaboration, Competition and the
Global Drivers of Research
Collaborative Research: Trends and Future Directions
Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD
30 March 2011
Dr Andrew Plume
Associate Director – Scientometrics & Market Analysis. Elsevier
Daniel Calto
Director of Business Development, Elsevier
$1,159B
$409B
2
Sources: Global R&D Magazine, Battelle (2010 estimates)
http://www.rdmag.com/tags/publications/global-r-and-d-funding-forecast/ ;
UNESCO Institute for Statistics (1990 actuals)
www.uis.unesco.org/template/pdf/S&T/BulletinNo1EN.pdf
(USD PPP—2010 est.)
(USD--1990)
$33.3B
$2.5B
3
(USD PPP—2010 est.)
(USD PPP—1990)
$141.4B
$12.4B
4
(USD PPP—2010 est.)
(USD PPP—1990)
$268.5B
$101.9B
5
(USD PPP—2010)
(USD PPP—1990)
$401.9B
$152.0B
6
(USD PPP—2010)
(USD PPP—1990)
Average Annual Growth of R&D Expenditure
for US, EU-27, Asia-8
Source: National Science Foundation
7
R&D Expenditures for US, EU, and Asia 19962007
8
Source: National Science Foundation
High-technology manufacturing share of total
manufacturing, by region/country: 1985–2005
Source: National Science Foundation
Global competition has increased dramatically
Countries ranked by published output in 2007
10
New global leaders are emerging
Countries ranked by output growth
1997-2007
“Today the dominant position of the
United States in the international
research and education community is being challenged
as never before.”
-American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Drivers of collaboration and competition
Collaboration
Funding
Personal allegiances
Ideological, social and political forces
Publish or perish
Low-cost communication and travel
Personal gain
Competition
Funding
Personal antipathies
Ideological, social and political forces
Publish or perish
Drive for individual recognition
Personal gain
Sharing in science
14
Levels of Scientific Collaboration at Major US Research Institutions
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
15
Levels of Scientific Collaboration at Goddard Space Flight Center
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
16
Why scientists don’t share
Having access to other
researchers’ data benefits/would
benefit my own research
I am willing to allow other
researchers to access my raw
research data
Total

Author Reader dichotomy more want access
than are willing to share

Chemistry
Computer Science


Earth & Env Sciences
Engineering

Life Sciences
Materials Science









Physics & Astronomy
SocSci + Arts Hum + Economics


Maths
Medicine & Allied Health




Significant difference between
subset and total
Significant difference between
2005 and 2010 data
17
Scientists seek recognition for their work
There is one character trait . . . which is an
intrinsic part of a scientist’s culture, and which
the public image doesn’t often include: his
extreme egocentricity, expressed chiefly in his
overmastering desire for recognition by his
peers. No other recognition matters. And that
recognition comes in only one way. It doesn’t
really matter who you are or whom you know.
You may not even know those other scientists
personally, but they know you—through your
publications.
18
Why scientists don’t share
Geneticists' Reasons for Withholding Post publication
Information, Data, or Materials. Respondents who considered
these motivating factors very important or important.
19
Big Science and hypercollaboration
•3,222 authors
•208 institutes
•37 countries
80%
20
International collaboration is rising globally
21
International collaboration is rising globally
22
International collaboration is rising globally
23
International collaboration increases citation impact
24
International collaboration is field-dependent
Numbers denote
number of articles
(thousands) in each
subject area in 2008
25
2000: International collaboration is centered on a few hubs
Germany
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
Italy
UK
France
Canada
US
Data Source: Scopus
Japan
2008: International collaboration is centred on a few (more) hubs
Germany
Switzerland
France
Italy
Canada
Belgium
Netherlands
UK
US
Japan
Australia
Data Source: Scopus
Collaboration may reflect geopolitical networks
Data Source: Scopus
28
Collaboration may reflect shared history and language
Data Source: Scopus
Competition for research grants is increasing
30
What types of information tools can be used to increase collaboration and
better understand patterns of both collaboration and competition?
Data source: SciVal Experts – NASA pilot
31
Johnson Space Center NASA Pilot – Project Detail
Data source: SciVal Experts – NASA pilot
32
Johnson Space Center NASA Pilot – Collaborator Network Detail
Data source: SciVal Experts – NASA pilot
33
Johnson Space Center NASA Pilot – Research Profile Detail
Data source: SciVal Experts – NASA pilot
34
Tracking interdisciplinary collaboration and national research
capabilities
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US and China national map
35
US National Map – Distinctive Competency # 548 -- Avian Wing
Design in Aeronautic and Astronautic Engineering
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
36
Distinctive Competency #548 – “Treemap” of components of
interdisciplinary competency
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
37
Tracking interdisciplinary collaboration and national research
capabilities -- Top Institutions
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
38
Tracking interdisciplinary collaboration and national research
capabilities -- Top Authors
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
39
Tracking interdisciplinary collaboration and national research
capabilities -- Top Countries
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
40
Distinctive Competency #64 – Space Research and Geophysics –
Top Institutions
Data Source: SciVal Spotlight 2009 US national map
41
42