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Breaking Boundaries: How International Collaboration Elevates Research Impact
A new report by Elsevier sheds light on the key success factors influencing a nation's research performance, with a specific focus on the Netherlands. The report underscores that international collaboration surpasses all other factors by a significant margin.
While internationalization is a central theme in universities and politics, the alignment between academic and political agendas is not always seamless. Universities embrace internationalization through various avenues, including hosting international students and staff, as well as fostering collaborations with researchers worldwide.
The findings of the Elsevier report, titled "The Netherlands as a Science Nation," draw attention to the remarkable success of Dutch science, particularly in international collaboration. Utilizing Elsevier's Scopus database, the report analyzed 350,000 articles authored by 200,000 Dutch researchers from 2018 to 2022. According to the report, the Netherlands stands out as a leader in international collaboration, with cross-border partnerships playing a pivotal role in driving the exceptional impact of Dutch science on a global scale.
Professor Jouke de Vries, PhD, Interim President of the Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) and President of the University of Groningen, emphasizes the significance of international collaboration in maintaining Dutch universities' position among the world's elite.
The study forms part of Elsevier's ongoing commitment to research impact analysis, complementing previous reports such as "Pathways to Net Zero" and Netherlands-focused studies on biodiversity and Amsterdam's competitive advantage. Examining international scientific collaboration globally, the report highlights the Netherlands' prominence, with 63% of its research articles resulting from cross-border collaborations, significantly surpassing the world average. Notably, international collaborations yield higher scientific impact compared to national partnerships, underscoring the importance of fostering global research networks.
The report's insights are crucial for countries aiming to strengthen their international scientific standing, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and researchers alike. As a case study, the Netherlands exemplifies the profound impact of international collaboration on scientific achievement. Dutch research enjoys widespread recognition, with its articles cited extensively by scientists worldwide, contributing significantly to global innovation and policymaking.
Dutch universities excel in forging partnerships with top institutions globally, driving scientific progress across diverse disciplines, including medicine, natural sciences, and humanities. Moreover, Dutch research extends its influence beyond academia, with notable contributions to innovation, policymaking, and sustainability initiatives, aligning with the UN's sustainable development goals.
In conclusion, the Elsevier report underscores the indispensable role of international collaboration in shaping a nation's scientific impact. By leveraging cross-border partnerships, the Netherlands has established itself as a powerhouse in global science, making substantial contributions to innovation, policy, and sustainability on the world stage.
Keywords
Elsevier report internationalization research performance Netherlands academic political agendas collaboration scientific impact Professor Jouke de Vries PhD Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) University of Groningen biodiversity Amsterdam's competitive advantage Pathways to Net Zero headquarters Amsterdam global science cross-border partnerships innovation policymaking sustainability UN's sustainable development goals academic powerhouses research networks policymaking scientific innovationDisclaimer
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of their affiliated institutions, the Asian Council of Science Editors (ACSE), or the Editor’s Café editorial team.
