"Science, Research and Innovation Performance of the EU 2018" Chapter 4: Scientific, technological and innovation production DG RTD, Unit A4 ERAC Workshop Brussels, 4 October 2017
Key findings Europe remains the global leader in scientific output, but the US still leads in impact and excellence and differences between Member States remain large. European science is becoming more open, and despite being a hub for international scientific cooperation, other regions show a more dynamic development. There is slow progress on key innovation outputs in the EU in recent years, with the EU lagging behind the US and Japan. Enterprise innovation rates have even declined in the recent past. 2
1. SCIENTIFIC PERFORMANCE 3
The EU remains the global leader in scientific production World share of scientific publications, 2000 and 2016 4
and has overtaken the US in terms of 10% most cited publications. However, the US still leads in top 1% highly cited publications. World share of highly cited scientific publications 2014 (citation window: 2014-2016) World share of 1% highly cited scientific publications 2014 (citation window: 2014-2016) 5
European science is becoming more excellent, with many Member States progressing % 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Top 10% highly cited scientific publications -2000, 2007, 2014 Figure I.4-A.4 Top 10% highly cited scientific publications, 2000, 2007 and 2014 2014 (citation window: 2014-2016) 2007 (citation window: 2007-2009) 2000 (citation window: 2000-2002) 6
Despite progress in the quality of scientific output at the EU level, many MS still perform low compared to R&D spending levels 7
International co-publications are stimulating knowledge production and boost citation impact Citation impact of scientific publications, 2014 (citation window: 2014-2016 8
While the EU has more universities among the top 500 of global rankings, the US still leads at the top end of such rankings. Number of top 100 and 500 universities in Shanghai ranking Top 100 universities Top 500 universities 2005 2010 2015 2017 2005 2010 2015 2017 EU (1) 30 28 29 28 191 191 192 182 United States 53 54 51 48 168 154 146 135 China 2 18 34 44 57 Japan 5 5 4 3 34 25 18 17 South Korea 8 10 12 12 Number of top 100 and 500 universities in Times Higher Education Workd university ranking Top 100 universities Top 500 universities 2016 2017 2018 2016 2017 2018 EU (1) 40 36 35 228 226 225 United States 39 41 43 122 120 125 China 2 2 2 11 12 12 Japan 2 2 2 11 12 10 South Korea 1 2 2 11 11 11 9
2. KNOWLEDGE FLOWS 10
European science is becoming more open 11
but large differences exist across Member States in the cooperation rate of enterprises. 12
and in science-business cooperation the EU lags behind several third countries. 13
However, Europe is still a leading actor in international scientific collaboration, which increased worldwide International scientific co-publications by partner (%), 2000 and 2016 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% EU United States Japan South Korea China EU United States Japan South Korea China 2000 2016 EU (1) United States Japan South Korea China Others 2000 EU (1) United States Japan South Korea China 2016 EU (1) United States Japan South Korea China International scientific co-publications 91186 54624 12918 3072 5761 227471 147412 23295 16156 70369 Total scientific publications 308406 265723 73686 13680 27255 469826 360283 69723 52509 274886 % share 29,6 20,6 17,5 22,5 21,1 48,4 40,9 33,4 30,8 25,6 Growth (%) 60 63 45 81 92 Formula: (y#2016-y#2000)/y#2000*100 34 26-6 74 90 14
and for the technological output the importance of knowledge in- and outflows even increased despite the recent drop in global trade growth 15
3. TECHNOLOGICAL AND INNOVATION OUTPUT 16
As regards innovation outputs the EU performs below the US and Japan. Progress is slow with some MS even showing a decline.
The EU performs on a similar level as the US in PCT patents, but is clearly outperformed by Japan. The EU share in world PCT patents is declining, while China catches up quickly.
The share of employment in knowledge-intensive activities is lower than in the US and Japan and stagnating in recent years.
However, while lagging behind Japan, the EU is outperforming the US in MHT exports
as well as in knowledge-intensive service exports. But differences between MS are large.
The share of employment in fast-growing innovative enterprises has fallen in recent years.
The share of innovative enterprises in the EU is declining slightly, including in low-performing Member States.