International Collaboration in Science: The Global Map and the Network

TL;DR

This paper maps the global network of scientific collaboration, showing rapid expansion and changing dynamics that influence science policy and the structure of knowledge production worldwide.

Contribution

It provides a visual and analytical representation of the evolving international co-authorship network, highlighting its global expansion and implications for science policy.

Findings

Almost all countries are involved in international collaboration by 2011

The network is rapidly expanding at the global level

Structural changes in science collaboration influence knowledge validation and discovery

Abstract

The network of international co-authorship relations has been dominated by certain European nations and the USA, but this network is rapidly expanding at the global level. Between 40 and 50 countries appear in the center of the international network in 2011, and almost all (201) nations are nowadays involved in international collaboration. In this brief communication, we present both a global map with the functionality of a Google Map (zooming, etc.) and network maps based on normalized relations. These maps reveal complementary aspects of the network. International collaboration in the generation of knowledge claims (that is, the context of discovery) changes the structural layering of the sciences. Previously, validation was at the global level and discovery more dependent on local contexts. This changing relationship between the geographical and intellectual dimensions of the sciences also has implications for national science policies.