Bibliometric indicators

Bibliometric indicators refer to indicators of the production of scientific and/or academic publications and of citations. The number of publications (whether in the form of articles, reviews, or conference proceedings) gives an idea of the general activity of researchers, whereas the number of citations gives an idea of the quality of the scientific work produced.

The following results were worked out using Clarivate Web of Science Inter year variations may partly arise from widening of the database coverage. Populations were sourced from Eurostat Population and social conditions database.

The last two years 2022 and 2023 have seen a significant drop in the numbers of scientific publications. This is most probably a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic as the lockdown imposed during 2020 has often prevented experimental work being carried out as planned.

1. Belgium in a European Perspective

This section presents the evolution of the production of scientific and academic publications and shares of international co-publications for a set of European countries and over the last recent (selectable) years. Publications are articles, reviews and conference proceedings.
The numbers of publications are simple countrywide totals or can be shown as population normalized figures.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2. Belgium in detail

This section presents a sectorial and geographical characterization of the academic and scientific literature produced in our country. Contributing institutions can be sorted in three main categories: Academic (Universities), Research Institutes and Private Sector.
For each category, the number of documents published, share of international co-publications and average number of citations per document are presented in annual time series.

Section 2 general overview:

2.1 Academic (universities) Number of documents and percentage of international co-publications
2.2 Academic (universities) Average number of citations per document
2.3 Research Institutes Number of documents and percentage of international co-publications
2.4 Research Institutes Average number of citations per document
2.5 Private Sector Number of documents and percentage of international co-publications
2.6 Private Sector Average number of citations per document

Results in the Academic and Private Sector categories can also be presented at community or region level.

2.1. Academic publications

Number of scientific and academic publications (articles, reviews and conference proceedings) with at least one author affiliated to a Belgian university. This category only comprises universities (KUL, UG, UCL, UA, ULiège/FUSAGx, ULB, UMons, FUNDP, VUB, UH, St Louis) and FWO, FNRS and VIB. High schools, hogescholen, hautes écoles and the Royal Military Academy are not included.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2.2. Numbers of citations for academic articles and reviews

Average number of citations received by articles and reviews authored by university affiliated researchers. Citations are counted over a three years period following the publication year.
Figures for the numbers of documents considered (articles and reviews) are also given.
Conference proceedings are not taken into account.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2.3. Publications from research institutes

Number of scientific and academic publications (articles, reviews and conference proceedings) authored by researchers affiliated to research institutes or non-academic hospitals located in Belgium. Research institutes include

federal institutions eg Royal Observatory of Belgium, Sciensano
regional institution eg VITO, Certech
research institutes managed by the EC and sited in Belgium The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (JRC-IRMM)
european organisations eg EORTC. Hospitals include AZ(algemeen ziekenhuizen), stedelijke ziekenhuizen and Hôpitaux régionaux.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2.4. Numbers of citations for articles and reviews from research institutes

Average number of citations received by articles and reviews authored by researchers affiliated with an institute or a non-academic hospitals. Citations are counted over a three years period following the publication year.
Figures for the numbers of documents taken into account (articles and reviews) are also given.
Conference proceedings are not taken into account.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2.5. Publications from Belgium based private companies or Belgium located research department of foreign companies

Number of scientific and academic publications (articles, reviews and conference proceedings) with at least one author affiliated to a Belgium based private company, or to a Belgium located research department of a foreign company.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider

2.6. Numbers of citations for articles and reviews from Belgium based private companies or Belgium located research department of foreign companies

Average number of citations received by articles and reviews authored by researchers affiliated with Belgium based private companies or Belgium based research departments of foreign companies. Citations are counted over a three years period following the publication year.
Figures for the numbers of documents taken into account (articles and reviews) are also given.
Conference proceedings are not taken into account.

Search criteria

To activate the Add Data Series button, make a selection in each criteria.
Criteria may be selected automatically if only one option is available.
Available options depend on selections made in the previous criteria.
To delete a series, click on the "trash" icon in the table below.

	Click a point in a series to change the scale factor

The years range can be adjusted with the horizontal sliders The scale factor of a series can be adjusted by clicking it in the chart and then moving the vertictal slider