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Intra-EU vs. extra-EU scientific co-publication patterns in EU

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Abstract

The increase of co-authored papers is a recognized fact. At the same time the factors influencing this change is not well known. This article aims at studying the patterns of EU science co-authorships. We analyzed articles published in 18 EU countries and their intra-EU (within EU) and extra-EU (with partners outside EU) co-publication pattern in five scientific fields. The results point to a Europeanisation of shared co-authorship rather than an internationalization outside Europe. Smaller countries co-authored more with other EU countries than bigger countries while the co-authorship rate with extra-EU partners was not dependent of the country’s size. The co-authorship patterns were also found to depend on the scientific field. Engineering and Computing & Technology was the field with the highest level of national publications and Physical, Chemical & Earth Sciences the field with the highest level of both intra-EU and extra-EU collaborations. These results support the view that a single market for research is developing within the EU with a seamless extension of national systems into other Member States ones.

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Correspondence to Pauline Mattsson.

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Mattsson, P., Laget, P., Nilsson, A. et al. Intra-EU vs. extra-EU scientific co-publication patterns in EU. Scientometrics 75, 555–574 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1793-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1793-x

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