Sino-Canadian collaborations in stem cell research: a scientometric analysis

Area of Science:

• Stem cell research
• International scientific collaboration
• Scientometrics

Background:

• Stem cell research is vital but faces knowledge and capacity disparities between nations.
• China is a rising global leader in stem cell research.
• Limited understanding exists regarding international collaboration patterns, especially between China and developed economies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scientometric analysis of stem cell research collaboration between China and Canada.
• To contextualize China-Canada collaboration within the global landscape of stem cell research.
• To examine the characteristics, impact, and trends of this specific international collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of stem cell research papers published between 2006 and 2010 sourced from the Scopus database.
• Utilized co-authored publications as a metric for international collaboration (IC).
• Examined IC levels, institutional partnerships, research focus, funding, and scientific impact.

Main Results:

• The global stem cell research field expanded by 48% from 2006-2010, with China ranking second globally.
• China exhibited the lowest IC rate among examined countries, while Canada had one of the highest.
• China-Canada collaboration more than doubled between 2006-2010 and significantly enhanced research impact compared to China-only publications.

Conclusions:

• International collaboration enhances the impact of stem cell research in China and globally.
• China's rise in stem cell research is largely driven by domestic publications, but IC is increasingly important.
• This study provides a baseline for future research into the dynamics of international stem cell research collaboration.