Research Funding in the Middle East and North Africa: Analyses of Acknowledgments in Scientific Publications indexed in the Web of Science (2008-2021)

TL;DR

This study analyzes funding acknowledgments in 2.3 million scientific publications from the MENA region (2008-2021) to understand funding sources, collaboration patterns, and funding structures, revealing regional differences and funding dynamics.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive mixed-methods analysis of funding acknowledgments in MENA scientific publications, highlighting regional funding structures and international collaboration influences.

Findings

Saudi Arabia and Qatar lead in funded publications.

Most MENA countries have strong international collaboration links.

Government and academia are primary funders, industry plays a minor role.

Abstract

Funding acknowledgments are important objects of study in the context of science funding. This study uses a mixed-methods approach to analyze the funding acknowledgments found in 2.3 million scientific publications published between 2008 and 2021 by authors affiliated with research institutions located in the Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA). The aim is to identify the major funders, assess their contribution to national scientific publications, and gain insights into the funding mechanism in relation to collaboration and publication. Publication data from the Web of Science is examined to provide key insights about funding activities. Saudi Arabia and Qatar lead the region, as about half of their publications include acknowledgments to funding sources. Most MENA countries exhibit strong linkages with foreign agencies, mainly due to a high level of international collaborations. The distinction between domestic and international publications reveals some differences in terms of funding structures. For instance, Turkey and Iran are dominated by one or two major funders whereas a few other countries like Saudi Arabia showcase multiple funders. Iran and Kuwait are examples of countries where research is mainly funded by domestic funders. The government and academic sectors mainly fund scientific research in MENA whereas the industry sector plays little or no role in terms of research funding. Lastly, the qualitative analyses provide more context into the complex funding mechanism. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the funding structure in MENA countries and provide insights to funders and research managers to evaluate the funding landscape.