The Chinese mainland has solidified its position as the world’s leading source of scientific “hot papers,” contributing 48.4 percent of the global total, according to a recent report released on Friday by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Scientific “hot papers” are studies published within the past two years that have received an exceptional number of citations in the most recent two months, placing them in the top 0.1 percent within their respective disciplines. This metric highlights the immediate impact and relevance of these studies in the global scientific community.
As of July 2024, the Chinese mainland had published 2,071 hot papers, accounting for nearly half of the world’s total. The United States followed in second place with 1,625 hot papers, reflecting its significant contribution to this influential category.
The report also revealed that the Chinese mainland ranked second globally in the number of highly cited papers—studies whose citations over the past decade place them in the top 1 percent of their fields. With 65,700 highly cited papers as of July this year, the Chinese mainland contributed 33.8 percent to the global total. The United States maintained the lead with 76,500 highly cited papers, representing 39.3 percent of the world’s share.
In addition, 2023 saw researchers from the Chinese mainland publishing a total of 395 papers in the prestigious journals Cell, Nature, and Science. This achievement elevated the country’s global ranking from fourth place in 2022 to second place last year.
The continuous growth in high-impact scientific publications underscores the Chinese mainland’s commitment to advancing research and innovation. The report emphasized that while the number of scientific research papers from the Chinese mainland has led the world for many years, efforts will continue to enhance the production of top-quality papers that drive global scientific progress.
Reference(s):
China remains top source of scientific 'hot papers,' think tank finds
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