Latest news with #MagdalenaSkipper
India Gazette
23-06-2025
- Science
- India Gazette
Latest global rankings show shift in global research landscape
Beyond the Nature Index, numerous global rankings have also highlighted Asia's growing influence, particularly China's significant contributions to worldwide scientific research. LONDON, June 22 (Xinhua) -- China's contribution to world-class science is advancing at a remarkable pace, further extending its lead in research output, according to calendar-year data for 2024 released in the latest Nature Index Research Leaders report. Beyond the Nature Index, numerous global rankings have also highlighted Asia's growing influence, particularly China's significant contributions to worldwide scientific research. Asian countries as a whole have gained greater prominence, while Western institutions have seen a decline in the number of top positions held within the rankings. An increasing number of experts believe these data indicate a fundamental transformation in the global research landscape, with scientific and research leadership shifting from the West to the East. CHINA MAINTAINS TOP SPOT In 2023, China surpassed the United States to claim the top position for the first time in the Nature Index Research Leaders list, which ranks countries, territories, and institutions based on their contributions to papers published in 145 leading health and natural sciences journals. Over the past year, China's leadership has expanded rapidly. According to the latest data, China's lead over the United States in the Nature Index database has grown more than fourfold in just one year. The country's Share -- the Nature Index's key metric of author contributions to high-quality research -- reached 32,122, a 17.4 percent increase from 2023. The region now has eight institutions in the top 10, compared to seven last year. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) retained its top position. The University of Science and Technology of China ranked third, while Zhejiang University (Share 819.57) rose from tenth to fourth place. Magdalena Skipper, editor-in-chief at Nature, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview earlier this year that China's increasingly mature and impactful contributions to global research have been recognized not only in the Nature Index, but also in other major rankings and evaluation systems for scientific output. According to the Global Innovation Index 2024 released by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), China continues to lead the world for the second consecutive year with 26 of the top 100 science and technology innovation clusters, further establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing economies in innovation over the past decade. "It is, of course, a testament to China's systematic investment in research and education, as well as its recognition of the importance of international collaboration," said Skipper. ASIA ENJOYS GREATER DOMINANCE Countries across Asia have shown strong growth in research output. In addition to China, South Korea and India were the other two countries in the top 10 to increase their adjusted Share from 2023 -- by 4.1 percent and 2 percent, respectively. South Korea, for instance, moved up from eighth to seventh in the Research Leaders 2025 ranking and increased its adjusted Share in biological sciences by more than 11 percent. The country also advanced from sixth to fourth place in the physical sciences. Singapore also distinguished itself with recent performance, rising to 16th place from 18th and posting a 7 percent increase -- the second-largest among the top 20 countries after China. Its adjusted Share in earth and environmental sciences papers grew by more than 19 percent from 2023 to 2024, while its adjusted Share in health sciences rose by over 23 percent. Japan, however, was an exception, recording a 9 percent decrease. The success of other Asian countries may also reflect a focus on green technology and materials, which are accounting for an increasing share of research articles in the database. According to the World Economic Forum, Asia is also emerging as a global hub for technology and innovation. By 2030, Asia's fintech revenues are expected to surpass those of North America. In the latest Global Innovation Index (GII) rankings, the five leading science and technology clusters globally are all located in East Asia, with China accounting for three of them. Data from the Nature Index also suggests that China-based researchers are increasing their collaboration with scientists in other Asian countries. This growing cooperation is helping to strengthen the research capabilities of other Asian nations, as reflected in the latest calendar-year data from the Nature Index. THE WEST'S DECLINE IN SHARE Joanne Carney, chief government relations officer at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), warns that the United States has "clearly crossed a threshold into actively abdicating our position as a global leader in research and development and innovation." Previously dominant Western countries have experienced a decline in their adjusted Share for the second consecutive year. Canada, France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States each recorded decreases of at least 7 percent, while Australia and Germany saw smaller declines of less than 3 percent. The United States' adjusted Share dropped sharply by 10.1 percent. Western research institutions also continue to fall in the annual Nature Index Research Leaders rankings. Major contributors to high-quality science, such as Germany's Max Planck Society and France's National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), have both dropped several places. The Max Planck Society fell from fourth to ninth place, while CNRS exited the top 10 for the first time, now ranking 13th. U.S. institutions have also seen significant declines. Stanford University dropped from sixth place overall in 2022 to 15th in 2023 and 16th in 2024. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ranked 17th in 2024, down from 14th the previous year. Harvard University, despite maintaining second place, recorded a 17.5 percent decrease in adjusted Share in 2024. "The data reflect a profound shift in the global research landscape," Simon Baker, chief editor of Nature Index, said: "China's continued investment in science and technology is translating into rapid sustained growth in high-quality research output, which in areas such as physical sciences and chemistry is now far outstripping previously dominant Western nations, including the United States."
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Applications Now Open for the 2026 Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature
NEW YORK and LONDON and BERLIN and TOKYO, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Group Corporation (Sony) and Nature today announced the application cycle for the 2026 Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature is now open. The annual award, launched to champion promising women researchers during crucial phases in their research and career development, recognizes three outstanding early to mid-career women researchers in technology (including science, engineering and mathematics) whose work is driving positive impact on society and the planet. Applications for the award will be accepted from March 6, 2025 at 12 AM GMT through May 30, 2025 at 11:59 PM GMT. The winners of the award will be announced in early 2026. The three winners will each receive a prize of $250,000 U.S. Dollars to support and accelerate work related to their research and a chance to showcase their achievements on Submissions will be evaluated by a judging panel of independent, esteemed technologists, scientists and experts from across the globe, including Nature Editor-in-Chief Magdalena Skipper and Hiroaki Kitano, CTO of Sony Group Corporation. Each application will be judged on the merits of ambition, innovation, conceptual excellence, impact and social significance. Hiroaki Kitano commented: "Earlier this year, we were honored to recognize the inaugural finalists and winners of the Sony Women in Technology Award with Nature, each of whom is pioneering fascinating, multidisciplinary research that will have real-world impact outside of the lab. I am optimistic that this year's cohort of applicants will also embody excellence and help expand this growing community of researchers across the globe. Whether you are in the early or mid-stage in your research career, we are excited to hear from you and champion your ambitions." Remarking on Nature's continued role in the program, Dr. Skipper said, "At Nature, we want to ensure that extraordinary technological breakthroughs get the recognition they deserve throughout the global research community. In partnering with Sony, we are jointly creating a high-caliber platform for rewarding and raising awareness of vital technological achievements from women researchers. The world needs their research and inventions." The award is open to applicants who self-identify as women and conduct research and development in technology. Eligible researchers working within a university, research institute, or university spin-out company are encouraged to apply. For more details about eligibility, please refer to the award site here. About Sony Group Corporation Sony Group Corporation is a creative entertainment company with a solid foundation of technology. Across its six business segments - Game & Network Services; Music; Pictures; Entertainment, Technology & Services; Imaging & Sensing Solutions; and Financial Services - Sony's purpose is to fill the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology. For more information, visit: About Nature PortfolioNature Portfolio's high-quality journals and services across the life, physical, chemical and applied sciences help move science and society forward. Nature Portfolio is home to the leading, international weekly journal of science, Nature – founded in 1869. It is also home to the Nature research and Nature Reviews journals, the leading open access multidisciplinary journal Nature Communications, and open access journals including Scientific Reports. Together, these journals publish some of the world's most significant scientific discoveries. Online, provides over nine million unique visitors per month with content, including news and comment from the Nature journal, and the leading scientific jobs board, Nature Careers. As part of Springer Nature, Nature Portfolio also offers a range of researcher services, including online and in-person training. For more information, please visit and follow @NaturePortfolio. About Springer NatureSpringer Nature is one of the leading publishers of research in the world. We publish the largest number of journals and books and are a pioneer in open research. Through our leading brands, trusted for more than 180 years, we provide technology-enabled products, platforms and services that help researchers to uncover new ideas and share their discoveries, health professionals to stay at the forefront of medical science, and educators to advance learning. We are proud to be part of progress, working together with the communities we serve to share knowledge and bring greater understanding to the world. For more information, please visit and @SpringerNature. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Sony Group Corporation
