This Research Material reports the results of the benchmarking of scientific research in the world and Japan by bibliometric analysis. Using five indicators (number of papers, number of adjusted Top10% papers, number of citations, share of adjusted Top10% papers in papers, and relative citation index), we analyzed the Japanese research activity compared with major countries in each field. In addition, the internal structure of knowledge production in Japan by sector was analyzed.
As a result, following three problems were revealed.

1. Japan has showed the lowest growth in paper production among G7 countries.
2. Because of decrease of the number of paper by business enterprise sector, the role of university and college sector has enlarged in Japanese internal structure of knowledge production. In recent years, however, the number of papers by national universities has turned flat.
3. The ratio of internationally co-authored papers has been on an upward trend in the world, unfortunately, the increase of internationally co-authored papers in Japan is not enough.

• Benchmarking Scientific Research 2012