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Scientific specialisation index
Definition
The indicator specialisation index (expressed as a positive number) is defined as:
the share of publications by the actor (institution, country, etc.) in a given field and within a given frame of reference (world, for example) proportional to its share of publications in all fields within the same frame of reference.
Example 1
Table 1-3-51
France: scientific publications as a share of world publications, two-year citations, specialisation index and impact index at two years by discipline (for the years 1993, 1996, 1999, 2004) and change over time (1999-2004).
- Click to enlarge (taken from the OST Report – 2006 edition)
Interpretation: In 2004 the field profile of France was fairly balanced except for a marked specialisation in Mathematics (degree of specialisation of 1.60). Specialisation indexes are slightly over 1 in Physics and in Earth Sciences, Astronomy and Astrophysics. They are slightly less than 1 in Engineering and Applied Biology / Ecology. Between 1999 and 2004, France strengthened its specialization in Mathematics, Physics, and Engineering. Certain other fields, such as Chemistry, Applied Biology / Ecology, and Biomedicine, showed a slight decline in France's specialisation in these fields.
Example 2
Figure 3-18
Specialisation index by scientific field of publications for France, Germany and the United Kingdom in 2004.
- Click to enlarge (taken from the OST Report – 2006 edition)
Interpretation: France is highly specialised in Mathematics. The United Kingdom is somewhat specialised in Biomedicine.