Abstract
BackgroundInstitutional operating figures and benchmarking systems are important features for the implementation of efficacy in basic and applied sciences. They are needed for research evaluation and funding policy. However, the current policy settings for research evaluation urgently need review since there may be imbalances present in many areas.MethodsThe present study assessed benchmarking of research output. By the use of large data bases research output was categorized and analyzed. Specific areas of major research activity were identified by comparing publication density on different organ systems and inter- and intrafield comparison was performed for selected countries.ResultsNovel density-equalizing mappings were constructed that illustrate trends of publication activity and identify subsets of major interest in a total of 5,527,558 published items. A dichotomy was present between Western countries such as the US, UK or Germany and Asian countries such as Japan, China or South Korea concerning research focuses.ConclusionThe present study is the first large scale analysis of global research activity and output over the last 50 years. The presently described assessment of operating figures at the national and international level can be used to identify single areas of research that are heavily focused. Further research on qualitative output benchmarking is needed to improve current policy settings for research evaluation.
Highlights
Institutional operating figures and benchmarking systems are important features for the implementation of efficacy in basic and applied sciences
While tools to assess these features are known for many areas of research they are especially important in biomedical research
There is a remarkable amount of scientific literature present on institutional operating figures for biomedical areas which are heavily funded by governmental or industrial sponsors
Summary
Institutional operating figures and benchmarking systems are important features for the implementation of efficacy in basic and applied sciences They are needed for research evaluation and funding policy. Acquisition of extramural grants from governmental and non-governmental institutions has become indispensable for all fields of research In this respect, institutional operating figures and benchmarking systems are extremely important features to implement efficient funding. There is a remarkable amount of scientific literature present on institutional operating figures for biomedical areas which are heavily funded by governmental or industrial sponsors These areas are i.e. neuroscience [13], cardiovascular medicine [14], gastroenterology [15], immunology [16], genetics [17], molecular biology [1820] or stem cell research [21,22,23]. To the existing literature for these major fields of research there are data available for smaller areas such as history of medicine [24], medical education [25], nursing sciences [26,27], reproductive health [28] or rehabilitation sciences [29,30]
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