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TURKEY’S SCIENTIFIC

RESEARCH OUTPUT IS

BOOMING

Answers come from analysis and a The event was held for the first time
joint research evaluation event with in Turkey, with the participation of
Elsevier and Hacettepe University representatives from government,
By Tayfun Basal and Gamze Keskin research institutes, universities
Over the last decade, Turkey’s and university libraries as well
GDP (gross domestic product) as researchers and public policy economies: India, which had 46.4 Turkey is investing in R&D, but not as
has grown significantly, prompting experts. Its main goal is to enable percent growth, and China, which much as other countries.
the government to increase its delegates to present and discuss had 37.7 percent. Despite its smaller The number or researchers and
R&D spending. Turkey increased Turkey’s research performance. GERD (gross domestic expenditure students is steadily growing, while
its research and development on R&D), Turkey is producing the percentage of PhD graduates
expenditure from 0.54 percent of At the same time, the event provides proportionately more “quality”
GDP in 2001 to 0.86 percent in a forum for in-depth conversation papers. remain stable.
2011, according to the Turkish on research evaluation, innovation Turkey is the leading country in the
Statistical Institute (TUIK). and policy management, and an Going deeper into the analysis of
As part of long-term plans, opportunity to share best practices Turkey’s research output, findings Middle East – far outpacing other
SMIT countries in impact and output.
the government has set a goal on how to capture and analyze show that Turkey is good at
to increase the share of R&D information scientific research chemistry, engineering and medicine. The SMIT countries – South Korea,
investments to 3 percent of GDP by output and use it to develop research Mexico, Indonesia and Turkey –
are considered the four emerging
2023, the centennial of the founding strategy. Research in Turkey has also become
of the Republic of Turkey. increasing interdisciplinary, as markets with the most potential for
But, what about the quality of this EXAMINING TURKEY’S shown by a 2011 study conducted growth after the BRIC countries
(Brazil, Russia, India and China),
research? RESEARCH OUTPUT by Elsevier. This trend can be seen
To answer this question, Elsevier During the event, rectors and vice on the SciVal Spotlight country map based on population growth and
organized a research performance rectors of leading universities in for Turkey, which shows scientific position economic growth.
and evaluation event March 12 Turkey, YS Chi and Elsevier SciVal production from 2007 to 2011.
in collaboration with Hacettepe Consultant Jörg Hellwig presented Turkey’s strengths are within
University in Ankara, Turkey. The revealing statistics – some in visual The bubbles represent research medicine and chemistry – whereas
theme of was “Turkey and Turkish form – about Turkish universities and competencies, while their position the strong activity in agricultural and
University’s Research Outputs in Turkey’s research output. and the different colors of the lines biological sciences does not reflect
the Context of International Trends within them show the disciplinary as a strength.
in Science and Collaboration In research output, Turkey ranks mix involved.
Opportunities.” number 18 of the world’s top 20 Turkey’s level of international
countries (based on number of The key to increasing the collaboration needs to be increased.
Elsevier Chairman Youngsuk “YS” articles published between 2006 international scientific influence is to The event
Chi began his presentation with and 2010) and is already a definitive increase international collaboration. The meeting was called “Trends
a quotation that reflects Turkey’s global competitor. Although it is on Although Turkey’s growth of research in International Cooperation within
motivation for investing in scientific the lower end in terms of the number output is increasing rapidly, it has the Framework of Outcomes and
research: of articles published, it is at the top long way to go to be a leader in Opportunities in Turkey and Turkish
in terms of the rate of growth – at international collaboration compared Universities”
Science is not a luxury which is the number 4, behind only China, India to other developed and developing Keynote Speakers
preserve of developed countries ... and Brazil. countries like Brazil, Iran and Italy. Professor Dr. A. Murat Tuncer, Rector of
Technology and innovation are key to Hacettepe University (Ankara, Turkey)
achieving long-term economic and There is not only global growth in During his presentation on “Turkey’s Youngsuk “YS” Chi, Chairman of Elsevier
(London)
social development. the quantity of Turkey’s research academic output performance, Professor Andrea Bonaccorsi, Executive Board,
The quotation is from The Royal output but also in the quality. This impact and collaboration overview,” National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities
and Research Institutes (ANVUR) and Full
Society report Knowledge, Networks graph shows the percentage of Hellwig also indicated that there is Professor at the University of Pisa (Italy)
and Nations, which surveys the total papers that have been cited, in a correlation between international Dr. John Green, Honorary Researcher, Imperial
global scientific landscape in 2011. 4-year increments since 1996. All collaboration and strength of Turkey. College (London)
Professor Mustafa Güden, Rector of Izmir Higher
Addressing the audience at the the countries on this graph have had He said that if Turkey increases the Technology Institute (Turkey)
opening session, Chi said: “Three growth in the proportion of papers level of international collaboration Professor Cem Saraç, Vice Rector of Hacettepe
decades of economics studies that have been cited over the entire in scientific research, it will be University (Ankara, Turkey)
Professor Hasan Mandal, Vice Rector of Sabanci
have conclusively demonstrated 15-year period. Nearly half (49.9 “paid back” with a high amount of University and Director of Research and Graduate
that investments in both basic and percent) of Turkish papers were cited international research funds. Policies (Istanbuk, Turkey)
Jörg Hellwig, SciVal Consultant at Elsevier
applied research pay off with very between 2006 and 2010. (Frankfurt, Germany)
large net positive economic impacts, Hellwig, who led this research as Learn more about this meeting on the event
though lags can be from 20 to 30 In this way, Turkey surpasses two SciVal Consultant, explained his website: elsevierturkiye.com/etkinlikler Download
the presentations.
years in basic science in particular.” of the world’s most rapidly growing conclusions: