The Impact of Asian ScienceThe Impact of Asian Science
Alma SwanAlma SwanKey Perspectives LtdKey Perspectives Ltd
Published sciencePublished science
Sources:Sources:
ISI Science Citation IndexISI Science Citation Index
United Nations population United Nations population statisticsstatistics
World Bank economic World Bank economic indicators databasesindicators databases
Key Perspectives Ltd
ISI’s Science Citation IndexISI’s Science Citation IndexThe caveats:The caveats:
Peer-reviewed journalsPeer-reviewed journals
English language abstracts and English language abstracts and keywordskeywords
Authors from multiple countriesAuthors from multiple countries
So… certain national or regional So… certain national or regional journals are excludedjournals are excluded
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This presentation will cover…This presentation will cover…
The impact of Asian science in terms of The impact of Asian science in terms of the amount published and how it is the amount published and how it is growing in different regions and countries growing in different regions and countries of Asiaof Asia
The subject areas that predominate in The subject areas that predominate in different countriesdifferent countries
The patterns of publishing (journals, The patterns of publishing (journals, collaborations)collaborations)
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Total database records (SCI)Total database records (SCI)
1983: 672,4171983: 672,417
1993: 754,3051993: 754,305
2003: 1,111,3972003: 1,111,397
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‘‘Western’ science outputWestern’ science output
Publications from North America Publications from North America and Western Europe account and Western Europe account for:for:
1983: 75% of total records1983: 75% of total records
1993: 70% of total records1993: 70% of total records
2003: 50% of total records2003: 50% of total records
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Growth in science output from various Growth in science output from various world regions 1983-2003world regions 1983-2003
Growth in science output from various Growth in science output from various world regions 1983-2003world regions 1983-2003
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
% increase in papers
published 1983-2003
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Growth in Asian science articles Growth in Asian science articles published 1983-2003published 1983-2003
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0
5
10
15
20
25
30
% o
f to
tal d
ata
ba
se
re
co
rds
1983 1993 2003
North EastAsia
South EastAsia
South Asia
North East Asia: North East Asia: papers published 2003papers published 2003
North East Asia: North East Asia: papers published 2003papers published 2003
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
Num
ber
of
pape
rs
Ch
ina
Mo
ngo
liaS
out
h K
ore
aN
ort
h K
ore
a
Japa
n
Tai
wan
Ho
ng
Ko
ng
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North East Asia: North East Asia: papers published 1983/2003papers published 1983/2003
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
Nu
mb
er
of
pa
pe
rs
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North East Asia: % increase in North East Asia: % increase in papers published 1983-2003papers published 1983-2003
North East Asia: % increase in North East Asia: % increase in papers published 1983-2003papers published 1983-2003
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
% in
cre
as
e in
pa
pe
rs
19
83
-20
03
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South East Asia: articles published South East Asia: articles published 1983-20031983-2003
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0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000A
rtic
les
pu
blis
he
d
Malaysia
SingaporeThailand
Vietnam
Articles 1983 Articles 1993 Articles 2003
South East Asia: growth in articles South East Asia: growth in articles published 1983-2003published 1983-2003
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0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
% in
crea
se in
art
icle
s
South Asia: articles published South Asia: articles published 1983-20031983-2003
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0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
Art
icle
s p
ub
lish
ed
Articles 1983 Articles 1993 Articles 2003
South Asia: Growth in articles South Asia: Growth in articles published 1983-2003published 1983-2003
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0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
% in
crea
se in
art
icle
s
BangladeshIndia
Pakistan
Australia and New Zealand: Australia and New Zealand: articles published 1983 to 2003articles published 1983 to 2003
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0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000A
rtic
les
pu
bli
shed
Australia
New Zeala
nd
Articles 1983 Articles 1993 Articles 2003
Australia and New Zealand: Australia and New Zealand: Growth of articles 1983 to 2003Growth of articles 1983 to 2003
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
% in
crea
se in
art
icle
s
Australia
New Zealand
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Two things to note, then….Two things to note, then….
Research output in absolute terms:Research output in absolute terms:Japan: Japan: 92K92K
China:China: 50K50K
Australia:Australia: 28K28K
India:India: 23K23K
South Korea:South Korea: 23K23K
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% growth% growth in research output over two decades: in research output over two decades:
The big hitters…The big hitters…
ChinaChina 1500% increase1500% increase 30003000 50,00050,000
TaiwanTaiwan 1900%1900% 700700 14,00014,000
South KoreaSouth Korea 440%440% 400400 23,00023,000
The up-and-coming league…The up-and-coming league…
Hong KongHong Kong 1500%1500% 500500 8,0008,000
SingaporeSingapore 1700%1700% 300300 5,5005,500
ThailandThailand 400+%400+% 450450 2,3002,300
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Lastly, on this topic, productivityLastly, on this topic, productivity
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
Art
icle
s/ p
er-c
apita
-GD
P
China
Indi
a
Japa
n
S. Kor
ea
Austra
lia
Taiwan
Thaila
nd
Hong
Kong
New Z
ealan
d
Singap
ore
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What kind of science?What kind of science?The ‘big hitters’:The ‘big hitters’:
China:China: physical sciences, physical sciences, engineering, materials engineering, materials
sciencescience
Japan:Japan: electronics, life sciences, electronics, life sciences, medical sciencesmedical sciences
India:India: chemistry, agriculture, chemistry, agriculture, materials sciencematerials science
Aust/NZ:Aust/NZ: life sciences, medical life sciences, medical sciences, geological sciencessciences, geological sciences
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Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore: Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore: electronics, materials science, electronics, materials science,
physical sciencesphysical sciences
South Korea:South Korea:engineering, life sciences, engineering, life sciences,
materials sciencematerials science
Thailand:Thailand:life sciences, medical scienceslife sciences, medical sciences
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The tiger economies:The tiger economies:
Spanish-speaking Latin America:Spanish-speaking Latin America:origin and destiny of papersorigin and destiny of papers
Spanish-speaking Latin America:Spanish-speaking Latin America:origin and destiny of papersorigin and destiny of papers
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
% papers in L.Am journals
Number of non L.Am instns
% papers from non L.Am instns
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Patterns of publishing by Asian scientists
Where is this science being Where is this science being published?published?
Mainly in non-Asian journals …. even for Mainly in non-Asian journals …. even for countries that have substantial domestic countries that have substantial domestic scholarly publishing programmesscholarly publishing programmes‘‘Western’ journals in the top 50 journals for Western’ journals in the top 50 journals for each country:each country:
Japan: Japan: 2929India:India: 2929Australia:Australia: 3434New Zealand:New Zealand: 3131South Korea:South Korea: 4040China: China: 4141
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Representation in Asian journalsRepresentation in Asian journals
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Art
icle
s i
n A
sia
n j
ou
rna
ls a
s
a %
of
tota
l a
rtic
les
China
Japa
n
Taiwan
Korea
India
Singap
ore
Austra
lia
New Z
ealan
d
1983
1993
2003
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Patterns of collaborationPatterns of collaboration
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0
5
10
15
20
25
% f
ore
ign
inst
itutio
ns
in t
op
50
Japa
n
Indi
a
Aust
ralia
New
Zea
land
Chi
naSo
uth
Kore
a
Taiw
anSi
ngap
ore
1983
1993
2003