A quantitative view of the structure of institutional scientific collaborations using the example of Berlin

Aliakbar Akbaritabar

doi:10.1162/qss_a_00131

Abstract

Abstract This paper examines the structure of scientific collaborations in Berlin as a specific case with a unique history of division and reunification. It aims to identify strategic organizational coalitions in a context with high sectoral diversity. We use publications data with at least one organization located in Berlin from 1996–2017 and their collaborators worldwide. We further investigate four members of the Berlin University Alliance (BUA), as a formerly established coalition in the region, through their self-represented research profiles compared with empirical results. Using a bipartite network modeling framework, we move beyond the uncontested trend towards team science and increasing internationalization. Our results show that BUA members shape the structure of scientific collaborations in the region. However, they are not collaborating cohesively in all fields and there are many smaller scientific actors involved in more internationalized collaborations in the region. Larger divides exist in some fields. Only Medical and Health Sciences have cohesive intraregional collaborations, which signals the success of the regional cooperation established in 2003. We explain possible underlying factors shaping the intraregional groupings and potential implications for regions worldwide. A major methodological contribution of this paper is evaluating the coverage and accuracy of different organization name disambiguation techniques.

Highlights

Researchers work for academic and nonacademic organizations and firms and use the resources from these organizations to carry out scientific work and form scientific collaborations
We aim to look at the outcome of scientific collaborations, in the form of scientific publications, that are produced through either the former or latter process
By understanding the structure of scientific collaborations between organizations, we aim to find a proxy to identify possible strategic coalitions among them that in turn could have been inspired by individual researchers

Summary

Introduction

Researchers work for academic and nonacademic organizations and firms and use the resources from these organizations to carry out scientific work and form scientific collaborations. Coalitions and strategic ties between scientific organizations can be a cause and/or an effect of the way scientists affiliated to them communicate with each other An example of the former is the top-down regional, national, or organizational policies that support specific types of collaborations (e.g., the COST1 initiative to foster scientific networking in Europe). By understanding the structure of scientific collaborations between organizations, we aim to find a proxy to identify possible strategic coalitions among them that in turn could have been inspired by individual researchers. This dichotomy is nothing but a simplification to serve the purpose of the current article. We are aware that large multiorganizational collaborations are not agreements of individual researchers (Shrum, Genuth et al, 2007, p. 117)

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