Research emphasis and collaboration in Africa

• Published in: Scientometrics Vol. 98; no. 3; pp. 2169 - 2184
• Main Authors: Pouris, Anastassios, Ho, Yuh-Shan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.03.2014; Springer
• Subjects: Bibliometrics. Scientometrics; Bibliometrics. Scientometrics. Evaluation; Computer Science; Exact sciences and technology; Information and communication sciences; Information science. Documentation; Information Storage and Retrieval; International co authorship; International comparisons; Library and information science. General aspects; Library Science; Sciences and techniques of general use; Subject fields; Scientometrics; Research; Collaboration; Co-authorship; Africa; Scientific research; Scientific cooperation; Coauthorship analysis
• ISSN: 0138-9130; 1588-2861
• DOI: 10.1007/s11192-013-1156-8

Scientific co-authorship of African researchers has become a fashionable topic in the recent scientometric literature. Researchers are investigating the effects, modes, dynamics and motives of collaboration in a continental research system which is in an embryonic stage and in different stages of development from country to country. In this article we attempt to provide some additional evidence by examining both patterns of collaboration at country and continental levels and the scientific disciplines emphasised. Our findings indicate that the continent’s research emphasises medical and natural resources disciplines to the detriment of disciplines supporting knowledge based economies and societies. Furthermore, we identify that the collaborative patterns in Africa are substantial higher than in the rest of the world. A number of questions related to research collaboration and its effects are raised.