Insights

CWTS B.V. combines the powerful techniques of network analysis, text mining and visualisation to provide its clients with customised and sophisticated bibliometric analyses for highly strategic purposes. All our analyses are fully supported by pre-developed techniques and tools, such as VOSviewer, which is a science mapping and network analysis application developed in-house.

Science Mapping Analysis

Science mapping analysis visually represents the scientific activities (i.e. research focus) of a country, organisation or journal and particularly reveals its strengths and weaknesses. VOSviewer is our software tool of choice for constructing and visualising bibliometric networks. These visual representations allow complex analyses to be reported in an intuitive manner. Similar analyses can be carried out for a specific scientific field or sub-field of interest.

SPR analysis (strength, promising and risk area analysis)​

In the SPR analysis we help research units with (re-)formulating research programmes, setting priorities and develop strategic visions. We position the current activities within a global structure of all science at a level of high granularity. Our CWTS publication-based classification system of science groups the full spectrum of published research – any bibliographic database of choice – into approximately 4,000 fields based on direct citation links. To identify research strengths, promising research areas or risk areas, conventional journal-based classification systems will not suffice. We have created a framework that resonates well with research unit management.

We also experience a good match with funding bodies and national science boards: e.g. to determine where emerging interdisciplinary research themes are. What are strong research areas and who are the prolific or influential actors? Which research area shows a strong connection to regional or international companies? The SPR-analysis provides a rich platform of insights to support strategic decision making.

Societal impact ABC-analysis

To monitor how your scientific research is relevant to society, CWTS measures societal impact through area-based connectedness (ABC-analysis). In this analytical approach, CWTS assesses the potential contribution research has on society looking at the collective effort, i.e. at the community (topic, research area) level.

We quantify the relation between societal issues and research by looking at existing traces in output and signals between R&D output and society. A research area is more connected to society than another when these traces or signals are stronger/denser. The signals CWTS picks up to monitor connectedness, differ from one area to the other. In this approach, the following signals retrieved from Web of Science and external sources, are used: co-authorships with companies, patent citations, references by policy documents, news items and mentions on Twitter.

Benchmark analysis

Benchmark identification locates relevant academic institutes for a proper international comparative perspective in a scientometric performance analysis. CWTS has refined methods to identify globally both similar academic institutions as well as academic institutions with specific set parameters.

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