[Research barometer: how is research activity monitored and how is it compared?].

Area of Science:

• Health Science Research
• Bibliometrics
• Research Funding

Background:

• Danish health science ranks globally high in scientific impact per investment and citation frequency.
• This high performance persists despite significant research budget reductions and a shift towards short-term, external funding over the past two decades.
• The current policy environment, prioritizing prompt results over long-term continuity, poses a potential threat to this established research excellence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the scientific impact and funding landscape of Danish health research.
• To evaluate the robustness of Danish health science amidst policy changes and budget constraints.
• To highlight the limitations of current retrospective research assessment methods and advocate for prospective monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of scientific impact (citations, most-cited papers).
• Analysis of research funding trends (government vs. external/private, long-term vs. short-term).
• Qualitative assessment of the impact of policy changes on research continuity and results.

Main Results:

• Danish health science achieves the highest scientific impact per investment globally.
• A significant share of Danish health research papers are among the most cited worldwide.
• Despite severe budget cuts and funding shifts, research output remains remarkably robust.

Conclusions:

• Danish health science exhibits exceptional resilience and impact despite adverse funding conditions.
• The current policy direction risks irreversible damage to the research sector.
• There is a critical need for more reliable, prospective methods for monitoring research performance.