Research on science and technology indicators

Overview of Research Activities

Science and technology indicators are basic tools to quantitatively and objectively grasp S&T activities. They are also useful tools to understand not only trends in S&T fields, but also in society as a whole and in the national economic growth. NISTEP therefore goes on the theoretical research in the field, and publishes every 3 or 4years the report 'Science and Technology Indicators' (1991, 1995, 1997 and 2000) on an on-going basis. And Since 2001, the report is updated annually.

NISTEP carried out a major revision of the S&T indicators in the 2000 edition to publish the 'Science and Technology Indicators (2004 version)'. This report deals with topics such as international S&T trends; trends related to S&T human resources, including education; quality of research and development results; trends in R&D in government, industry, and academia; innovation; and national interest in science and technology.

Chart 1 shows trends in major advanced countries of the General Indicator of Science and Technology (GIST) developed by NISTEP to measure overall science and technology prowess. Japan ranks second among the five leading countries. Chart 2 illustrates changes in the form of joint authorship of science and technology papers. The number of papers with four or more authors has increased rapidly, demonstrating the continuing trend towards group research and development becoming the mainstream (Chart 2-1). In addition, inter-institutional and international joint authorship is growing rapidly, indicating the advancing trend towards the networkization and internationalization of research and development (Chart 2-2).

Chart 1 Trends in the General Indicator of Science and Technology in leading countries

Chart 2-1 Publications recorded in SCI by number of authors

Chart 2-2 Changes in the form of joint authorship (trends in joint authorship of publications recorded in SCI)

Source:

"Science and technology indicators: systemic analysis of Japan's science and technology," NISTEP Report No.73