EU outstrips US in scientific publishing output

Even though European researchers are publishing more scientific articles, a US government agency argues that American research remains the most influential.

A new report by the National Science Foundation, a US government agency, shows a global shift in scientific-publication output. An overview of scientific articles conducted between 1988 and 2003 reveals that US share of published articles is declining as the EU and emerging countries gain expertise. 

The EU has outstripped the US in total number of articles published, with an average annual growth rate of 2.8% between 1992 and 2003, four times more than the US. Moreover, the report observes a large increase of scientific publications in Asian countries during the same period, with a growth rate of  15.9% for China, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. 

However, the report states that US science and research output remains influential.

The number of published articles and their citation in scientific journals is an indicator of research capability, and publishing policy is considered as one of the basic pillars of research activity. 

In the context of the 7th Research Framework Programme, the Commission launched a debate on a European policy for scientific publishing. The first outcome of the debate is a report, released in February 2007, which includes recommendations on the European scientific publishing market and in particular, access to scientific information (see EURACTIV 16/02/07). 

While collaboration between governments, research and development institutions and scientific organisations at EU level is still in its initial phase, a priority of the EU Portuguese Presidency is to encourage a debate on a European research publishing policy

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