Using bibliometrics, scientometrics, and technometrics in support of evaluation and decision-making in science and technology and in R&D management.
Providing timely, strategic advice and intelligence in well established scientific fields as well as in emerging research fields is crucial in what is now a largely knowledge driven world economy. Science-Metrix and R&D Reports provide measurement and evaluation services and products in support of research and development management and science and technology policy making. Analysts, strategists, development officers and policy makers have come to rely on Science-Metrix and R&D Reports to help them make informed and mission-critical decisions.
Science-Metrix - Custom Services
Since its foundation in 2002, Science-Metrix has completed well over one hundred contracts commissioned by government departments and agencies, technology transfer and liaison centres, universities and private companies. Science-Metrix obtains, collates, standardizes and stores data on scientific publications, patents and research funding. Using these data, the company produces scientometric and technometric statistics on research output, scope and impact. In 2007 Science-Metrix created R&D Reports, a new division aimed at providing high quality off-the-shelf research reports to all those with a stake in scientific and technological development.
R&D Reports - Information Products
R&D Reports offers insightful reports that provide robust bibliometric data on R&D performed in key research fields. The data and the analysis contained in each of R&D Reports' products are independent, robust, objective, and reproducible.
R&D Reports' goal is to provide relevant information, data and reports in support of the decision-making process. R&D Reports identifies and ranks the world's most relevant research organizations through the examination of scientific publications and intellectual property by leading countries, organizations and researchers. R&D Reports' also reveals the interrelationships between these leading organizations.
BIBLIOMETRIC METHODS
Bibliometrics can be defined as the application of statistical and information processing methods to analyze bibliographic data such as that contained in books, papers and patents. Although scientometrics could be defined as including all the quantification of everything that pertains to science, it is usually understood as the use of bibliometric methods in the measurement of scientific communications. In a symmetrical manner, technometrics is defined as the use of bibliometric methods in the measurement of inventions and of intellectual property protection.
Bibliometric methods can be used to measure and compare R&D at various levels of aggregation including institutions, sectors, provinces and countries. They can also be used to measure research collaborations, to map collaboration networks and to monitor the evolution of scientific and technological fields. Scientometric indicators give policy-makers objective, reproducible and certifiable information that goes beyond the anecdotal.
Bibliometric methods are extremely valuable for evaluating research output, positioning studies and conducting foresight studies in science and technology. They are frequently used to conduct scientific, strategic, technological, technical or competitive benchmarking and monitoring.