Singapore emerging as research leader

Singapore's research output is currently growing exponentially and will soon exceed the world average, according to recent market research.

The publisher, Bibliometrics, analysed Singapore's scientific productivity using bibliometric data provided by Thomson Scientific.

Bibliometric analysis is the comparative analysis of the quantity and quality of scientific output " measured using the aggregates of indexed titles at a country and subject level.

The data showed that Singapore's scientific productivity proportion, as a proportion of the world's output, continued to rise at a rate that far exceeded the overall world growth rate.

In fact, Singapore's output increased by some 72% from 2000 to 2007.

"The positive implications of this "ecometric' data are tremendous," said Iain Craig, director of Bibliometrics.

"Singapore's research output is on track to reach - and then exceed - the world average in the next few years. The country has definitely established itself as an essential collaboration partner for both regional and international research institutes."

The analysis also showed that Singapore, with an R&D expenditure of approximately US$3.1 billion in 2006, generated publications at a rate of 0.3 publications per researcher. This ratio is higher than that of both China and Japan " who had spent significantly more money on R&D in the same time period.

The number of publications by Singapore researchers in high impact journals had also increased year on year, indicating that publishing activity in Singapore continues to take on a more external focus.

International collaboration is increasing in intensity and Singaporean researchers are now publishing high quality research material with more countries. The international research status of Singapore is rising, presenting more opportunity for further improvements in publication quality through global partnerships.