Conclusion
Overall, the United States remains a highly influential nation in its contribution to S&E publications, based on the overall size of the U.S. contribution and its relative impact, as measured by citations in S&E publications. In terms of S&E publication quantity, China’s output has grown rapidly and is now comparable to the United States. In terms of impact among S&E publications, China has increased rapidly in the last decade from a small base; however, it still lags the United States and EU countries. The high-income economies (including the United States, the EU, and Japan) have grown more slowly in S&E publications, while lower-, middle-, and upper-middle-income economies have increased production, collaboration, and impact at a much faster rate.
International research collaboration is increasing, reflecting traditional cross-country ties and new relationships that stem from growing capabilities in the middle-income economies. This international collaboration indicates that S&E knowledge is flowing with increasing ease across the world.