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UK second in world research publication

31/07/2008

The UK is second only to the US in its share of research published and cited in the world's leading scientific journals, a report claimed today.

Nine per cent of papers produced annually and 12 per cent of citations are from UK researchers, according to the study published by the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS)

The research compared how the UK is performing alongside the 25 world leading research economies – including the G8 nations, India and China.

It analysed 17 million papers and 22.5 million citations in 8,000 of the world's leading scientific journals.

The results show that the UK has also increased its share of citations in 'high impact' journals which make up one per cent of all journals - such as
Nature, Science and Cell - to 13.4 per cent from 13.2 per cent in 2005.

And the UK was ranked best value for money for research and development.

Commenting on the report, science and innovation minister Ian Pearson, said: "For a country of its size, the UK is widely acknowledged to be an extremely effective research performer. It is difficult to improve on this level of achievement, but we have done so despite ever increasing competition.

"With continued investment from the government and the outstanding research talents we possess I am confident that the UK can sustain its position as the world's most productive research nation."

Nations which have also substantially increased their share of world papers include Brazil, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and, most notably, Iran - which has shown a ten-fold increase to almost 7,000 papers over the last year.