Scientific, technological and innovation performance

• Author: Tiago Pereira, Heiko Prange-Gstöhl, Katarzyna Szkuta and Marta Truco
• Pages: 359-449

CHAPTER 6

SCIENTIFIC

PERFORMANCE

KEY FIGURES

21 %

EU’s share of global

scientif‌ic publications

21 %

EU’s share of the

top 1% highly cited

scientif‌ic publications

27 %

EU’s share of highly

cited scientif‌ic

publications on food

and bioeconomy

60 000

EU publications contributing

to or using machine-based

learning activities

360

What can we learn?

 The EU and China are the global leaders

in terms of scientif‌ic output, while the

United States retains its lead in terms of

scientif‌ic quality. Output from Chinese

researchers has risen exponentially in

the last two decades to almost match the EU.

 Within the EU, there is a diversity of

research intensities and a positive

correlation between scientif‌ic quality

and investments in most countries.

 Digitalisation is transforming science.

All areas of research are becoming data-

intensive, increasingly relying upon and

generating big data.

 Science is key in addressing societal

challenges. The EU is leading in high-

quality scientif‌ic publications in the food/

bioeconomy and climate/environment sec-

tors, while China is increasing exponentially

across sectors, and the United States is

losing its overall leadership.

What does it mean for policy?

 To remain a leading global scientif‌ic

player, the EU and its Member States must

strengthen their ef‌forts to increase the

ef‌fectiveness and performance of their

public research systems through stronger

R&I investments and policy reforms.

 To exploit the full potential of science

digitalisation, policies must be adapted to

reinforce researchers’ digital skills, promote

open science as well as to ensure the

necessary investment in high-quality data

infrastructures.

 As science is key in addressing societal

challenges, the EU must not only ensure

scientif‌ic leadership in key areas but must

also foster interdisciplinarity research

that is necessary to successfully deliver on

the SDGs.

361

CHAPTER 6

1. The EU and China are global leaders in terms of

scientif‌ic output, while the United States retains

the lead in scientif‌ic quality

1 One way to analyse the scientif‌ic performance of countries and regions is to look at the number of scientif‌ic publications

published by the researchers based there. However, the rise of international collaboration over the last 20 years needs to

be taken into account as a high proportion of scientif‌ic publications now have authors in more than one country.

Jointly with China, the EU remains in the

leading position in terms of the share of

scientif‌ic output worldwide, while the US’

share has continued to shrink. With 7 % of

the world population, the EU is responsible for

20 % of global R&D expenditure and 21 % of

scientif‌ic publications worldwide. However, with

the United Kingdom leaving the EU, the EU’s

share declined from 30 % in 2000 to 21 % in

2018 (see Figure 6.1-1)1.

China has established itself as a major scientif‌ic

player and a competitor in high-tech sectors. The

country’s world share of scientif‌ic publications

rose exponentially from 5.8 % in 2000 to 20.9 %

in 2018 (see Figure 6.1.2), showing China's

leadership in the global ranking, jointly with the

EU (without the UK). Moreover, China’s share of

world R&D expenditure has increased from 5 %

in 2000 to more than 20 % today, which means

that its R&D intensity has already overtaken that

of the EU (European Commission, 2019a: 59).

Figure 6.1-1 World share of scientif‌ic publications

(1)

, 2000 and 2018

Science, research and innovation performance of the EU 2020

Source: DG Research and Innovation, Chief Economist - R&I Strategy & Foresight Unit

Notes: (1)Data produced by Science-Metrix based on Scopus database. Fractional counting method used. (2)BRIS includes Brazil,

Russian Federation, India and South Africa. (3)Developed Asia economies includes Japan and South Korea. (4)Figures correspond to

the latest year, 2018.

Stat. link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/f‌iles/srip/2020/parti/chapter61/f‌igure-61-1.xlsx

0 %

10 %

20 %

30 %

40 %

50 %

60 %

70 %

80 %

90 %

100 %

2000 2002 20042006 2008 2010 2012 20142016 2018

Rest of the world, 23.9 %

BRIS, 11.3 %

(2)

Developed Asian economies, 6.3 %

(3)

China, 20.9 %

United States, 16.9 %

EU, 20.8 %