The new internal report “Analysis of International Research Collaborations at Stockholm University” maps and assesses the level of international collaborations of Stockholm University by looking at scientific co-publications. Even if it is not a direct indicator, analysing co-publications is one of the common ways to map the output of international collaborations. Together with other data, it also offers clues as to what factors might encourage international collaborations and co-publications.

Internationalisation at the University

Publication data has also been mapped together with information from Stockholm University Research Database about externally funded international research collaborations and post docs destinations for Stockholm University scholars.

The report is one of several studies written as background material for Stockholm University’s coming strategy for continued internationalisation 2019-22. Together with other reports, it provides information about internationalisation and possible ways to increase international collaborations at Stockholm University. In addition, it provides data for current work with international contacts and collaborations e.g. by pointing to potential strategic partner universities various countries.

Highly cited publications often international

The study concludes that:

  • The ratio of international co-authored publications by Stockholm University is continuously increasing, today it is more than 70%.
  • International co-publications are common in natural sciences publications (more than 75%), but only 50% in social sciences, and less than 30% in humanities and law.
  • The most common collaborating countries are those which have the highest publications rate in the world: USA, the UK and Germany. They are followed by China, Finland and Norway.
  • There are some exceptionally strong specific linkages between certain departments and countries which often are the result of international recruitments.
  • According to ”Highly Cited Papers“ the University’s strongest research areas are physics, astronomy, chemistry, environmental sciences and geosciences within natural sciences; and aging research, psychology, stress research and sociology within social sciences. The humanities are underrepresented in publications of journal articles.
  • The ”Highly Cited Papers“ have almost exclusively resulted from international collaborations, only a few reached highly cited status without international collaborations.