This document analyzes research strengths in Southeast Asia relative to the EU and other Asia-Pacific countries based on bibliometric data from Scopus. It finds that Singapore dominates in nanotechnology, ICT, and industrial technology, while strengths in other fields like energy, food/agriculture, and environment are more distributed across ASEAN countries. Thailand and Singapore publish the most in health and environment. The document recommends combining quantitative bibliometric analyses with qualitative expert insights to help build research networks and link researchers across Southeast Asia.

1. A Bibliometric Study of SE Asia
Peter Haddawy

2. Key Questions
• Research strengths of ASEAN relative to the EU
• Comparison with countries in Asia-Pacific
• Distribution of research strengths in ASEAN – country and university
• Top researchers in ASEAN
– Research networking
• Subject Categories
– Nanotechnology
– ICT
– Industrial Technology
– Energy
– Food, agriculture and biotechnology
– Environment
– Health

3. Methodology
• Measures
– Output: Publications
– Impact: Citations
– Internationality:
• International co-authorship
• International citations
• Subject Categories: Keywords vetted by experts
• Data
– Elsevier Scopus database
– Years: 2000 - 2008

4. ASEAN relative to EU
ASEAN research output relative to EU
(2004-2008)
9.00 8.96
7.02 6.79
6.40 6.26
% of EU
7.00
5.06 5.58 5.24 4.78
5.00 4.09
3.13
3.17 2.60
3.00
1.98
1.00
Publications
Citations
Data source: Scopus

5. Nanotechnology
• Nanoscience and nanotechnology
• Biodegradable nanostructured material
• Sustainable Energy Conversion
• Thin films
• Nanotubes
• Nanofibers
• Nanotechnology based materials and products,
• Biomaterials and bio-inspired materials
• Integration of knowledge and technology

6. Nanotechnology
China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and ASEAN
Data source: Scopus

7. Nanotechnology
ASEAN Countries
Data source: Scopus

8. Nanotechnology
Top institutes in ASEAN
Data source: Scopus

9. ICT
• Cognitive System and Robotics
• Cloud Computing
• E-learning
• Digital Content and Technology
• ICT for Health
• E-government
• Multimedia and others

10. ICT
ASEAN Countries
2

11. ICT
Top Institutes in ASEAN
2

12. Industrial Technology
• Technology and Industry
• Industrial Engineering
• Industrial Applications
• Industrial Informatics
• Industry Innovations
• Industrial control
• Industrial ecology
• Industrial Design Technology
• Industrial Wastewater

13. Industrial Technology
China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and ASEAN
2

14. Industrial Technology
ASEAN Countries
3

15. Energy
• Energy Engineering and Power Technology
• Fuel Technology
• Nuclear Energy and Engineering
• Renewable Energy Sustainability and the Environment

16. Energy
ASEAN Countries
3

17. Energy
Top Institutes in ASEAN
2

18. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
• Food Safety
• Food security
• Food Science and Technology
• Agriculture
• Fisheries
• Animal Health and Welfare
• Forestry
• Climate change and its impact on agriculture
• Mitigation Strategies and Socio-economy issues and support to
agricultural policies

19. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
ASEAN Countries
4

20. Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology
Top Institutes in ASEAN
Thailand?
2

21. Environment
• Ecological Modeling
• Ecology
• Environmental Chemistry
• Environmental Engineering
• Global and Planetary Change
• Health Toxicology and Mutagenesis
• Management Monitoring Policy and Law
• Nature and Landscape Conservation
• Pollution
• Waste Management and Disposal
• Water Science and Technology

22. Environment
China, Japan, Australia, South Korea and ASEAN
4

23. Environment
ASEAN Countries
3

24. Environment
Top Institutes in ASEAN

25. Health
• Cancer
• Tuberculosis
• Malaria
• Dengue
• Emerging pathogens
• HIV/AIDs
• Alzheimer's diseases
• Frailty and Geriatrics
• Vector Borne Diseases
• Orphan disease and drugs
• Biomarkers
• Others (Chikugunya, Helminth disease, Leprosy etc)

26. Health
ASEAN Countries

27. Health
Top Institutes in ASEAN

28. Health
Top Authors in ASEAN

29. Health
Top Authors in ASEAN
Author Affiliation
Wong, M.C. National University of Singapore
Chow, P.K.H. National University of Singapore
Chia, K.S. National University of Singapore, Centre for Molecular Epidemiology
Thumboo, J. National University of Singapore, Department of Medicine
Tan, E.K. National University of Singapore, Singapore Graduate Medical School
Tan, D.T.H. Singapore National Eye Centre, Cornea and External Disease Service
Saw, S.M. Singapore National Eye Centre, Department of Ophthalmology
Wong, T.Y. Singapore National Eye Centre, Neuro-Ophthalmology Service
Chan, Y.H. Singapore Eye Research Institute
Singhasivanon, P. Mahidol University, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Thailand
Krudsood, S. Mahidol University, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Thailand
Looareesuwan, S. Mahidol University, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Nakon Pathom , Thailand
Eu, K.W. Singapore General Hospital, Department of Colorectal Surgery
Tan, P.H. Singapore General Hospital, Department of Pathology
Soo, K.C. Singapore General Hospital, Department of Surgery
Poovorawan, Y. Srinakharinwirot University, Department of Microbiology
Aung, T. Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Phanuphak, P. The HIV Netherlands Australia Thailand Research Collaboration, Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre
Seow-Choen, F. Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre
Chongsuvivatwong, V. Prince of Songkia University, Faculty of Medicine, Songkla , Thailand

30. Summary
• ASEAN strong in Nanotech, ICT, Industrial Technology
– SG dominant, followed by MY & TH
• In other areas strengths are more distributed among
ASEAN countries
• Energy
– SG, TH, MY similar in publications
– SG ahead in citations, followed by TH & MY, then ID
• Food, Agriculture, and Biotech
– TH leads in publications; about half SG number of citations
– TH strength distributed among universities
– Good distribution of strength in ASEAN: TH, SG, MY, PH,
ID, VN
United Nations University - International Institute for Software Technology

31. Summary
• Environment
– TH & SG close in publications & citations
– TH’s strength again distributed among universities
– Good distribution of strength in ASEAN: TH, SG, MY,
PH, ID, VN
• Health
– TH & SG close in publications and citations
– Mahidol dominant in publications; tied with NUS in
citations
• ASEAN has a high percentage of international
collaborations and international citations
United Nations University - International Institute for Software Technology

32. Recommendations
• Need to bring together quantitative and
qualitative analyses
– Value of quantitative analyses only fully realized
when reflected upon by subject experts
• Leverage quantitative analyses to help build
social networks to link researchers...
– More at 1:40 in Health Thematic Breakout
United Nations University - International Institute for Software Technology