Who benefits from a country's scientific research?

TL;DR

This paper develops a methodology to analyze how different countries benefit from Italian scientific research across various fields, providing insights for international research collaboration policies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to trace and compare knowledge flows from Italy to other countries across different scientific fields.

Findings

Identifies countries that benefit most from Italian research.

Shows variation in knowledge flow across fields and countries.

Provides a basis for informed bilateral research collaboration policies.

Abstract

When a publication is cited it generates a benefit. Through the country affiliations of the citing authors, it is possible to work upwards, tracing the countries that benefit from results produced in a national research system. In this work we take the knowledge flow from Italy as an example. We develop a methodology for examination of how the knowledge flows vary across fields, in each beneficiary country. We also measure the field comparative advantage of countries in benefiting from Italian research. The results from this method can inform bilateral research collaboration policies.