Scientific Leadership and Influencing Factors in International Collaboration: A Spatial Econometric Analysis Based on DBLP Data

Abstract

Abstract: In the context of globalization, international scientific collaboration has garnered significant attention. Existing research often assumes equal status among collaborators, neglecting the hierarchical dynamics within research teams. The diversity of current scientific collaborations means that authorship alone is insufficient to fully capture leadership roles; analyzing research teams through collaborative networks can better identify key nodes. Additionally, while existing studies have shown that geographic distance can affect the intensity of international collaboration, they have largely overlooked the impact of spatial factors on scientific leadership, which can affect the accuracy of model estimations. Therefore, this study analyzes the scientific leadership of countries in international scientific collaborations within the field of Computer Science from a global network perspective, identifying leading countries through network centrality and applying spatial econometric models to analyze influencing factors. Findings reveal a notable spatial clustering effect, with countries demonstrating strong scientific leadership primarily concentrated in Europe and North America. However, some European countries, despite having numerous partners and participating in many collaborative papers, are not classified as scientific leaders, indicating a more participatory role. Spatial regression analysis shows that a country’s scientific leadership is influenced by the scientific leadership levels of its neighboring countries. Gross domestic product (GDP) and education expenditure positively impact scientific leadership, while population size has a negative impact. Introducing the concept of national scientific leadership provides a new analytical perspective for understanding the leading positions in international collaboration, which is of significant theoretical and practical importance for promoting win-win cooperation and enhancing collaborative innovation efficiency among countries.

Zhang Chengzhi, Hu Zile, Zhao Yi (Department of Information Management, School of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Science & Technology). Scientific Leadership and Influencing Factors in International Collaboration: A Spatial Econometric Analysis Based on DBLP Data[J]. Libraly Journal, 2025, 44(408): 98-109.

References

[ 1 ] 赵君，廖建桥. 科研合作研究综述 [J]. 科学管理研究，2013，31（2）：117–120.

[ 2 ] 陈秀娟，张志强. 国际科研合作对科研绩效的影响研究综述[J]. 图书情报工作，2019，63（15）： 127–139.

[ 3 ] 杨裕楷，赵毅，章成志. 什么类型的机构合作会产生更高的学术影响力？——以自然语言处理领域为例[J]. 图书馆论坛，2024，44（5）：40–53.

[ 4 ] 甘可林. Universitas 21——促进高校质量保障国际化 [J]. 中国高等教育评估，2004（2）：64.

[ 5 ] Hwang K. International collaboration in multilayered center-periphery in the globalization of science and technology [J]. Science，Technology，& Human Values，2008，33（1）：101–133.

[ 6 ] Katz J S，Martin B R. What is research collaboration? [J]. Research Policy，1997，26（1）：1–18.

[ 7 ] Martin B R. The evolution of science policy and innovation studies [J]. Research Policy，2012，41（7）： 1219–1239.

[ 8 ] 严炜炜，刘倩，胡媛. 基于科研协同关系的模块化协同分工体系构建研究 [J]. 信息资源管理学报，2017，7（4）：97–102；112.

[ 9 ] González-Alcaide G，Park J，Huamaní C，et al. Dominance and leadership in research activities： Collaboration between countries of differing human development is reflected through authorship order and designation as corresponding authors in scientific publications [J]. PloS one，2017，12（8）： e0182513.

[10] 贺超城，吴江，魏子瑶，等. 科研合作中机构间科研主导力及邻近性机理——以中国生物医学领域为例 [J]. 情报学报，2020，39（2）：148–157.

[11] Logan J M，Bean S B，Myers A E. Author contributions to ecological publications：What does it mean to be an author in modern ecological research? [J]. PLoS One，2017，12（6）：e0179956.

[12] Guzzo R A，Dickson M W. Teams in organizations： Recent research on performance and effectiveness [J]. Annual review of psychology，1996，47（1）： 307–338.

[13] Yu S，Bedru H D，Lee I，et al. Science of scientific team science：A survey [J]. Computer Science Review，2019，31：72–83.

[14] Ma G，Yuhua Q，Zhang Y，et al. The recognition of kernel research team [J]. Journal of Informetrics， 2022，16（4）：101339.

[15] 赵毅，章成志，习海旭. 影响不同子领域国际合作的距离因素相同吗？——来自计算机科学学科的证据 [J]. 情报学报，2023，42（12）： 1458–1476.

[16] Newman M E. Coauthorship networks and patterns of scientific collaboration [J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences，2004，101（sl1）： 5200–5205.

[17] Sauermann H，Haeussler C. Authorship and contribution disclosures [J]. Science Advances， 2017，3（11）：e1700404.

[18] Hu X，Rousseau R，Chen J. In those fields where multiple authorship is the rule，the h-index should be supplemented by role-based h-indices [J]. Journal of Information Science，2010，36（1）： 73–85.

[19] 林歌歌，侯海燕，王亚杰，等. 基于合作率与主导性视角的中国国际科研合作地位变迁研究 [J]. 信息资源管理学报，2023，13（2）：108–124.

[20] Chinchilla-Rodríguez Z，Sugimoto C R，Larivière V. Follow the leader：On the relationship between leadership and scholarly impact in international collaborations [J]. PloS one，2019，14（6）： e0218309.

[21] 尚媛媛，张琳，曹喆，等. 高水平综合性学术期刊论文科研合作特征与影响力研究 ——以中美发表的Nature、Science 论文为例 [J]. 现代情报， 2022，42（2）：163–177.

[22] Cleary M，Jackson D，Walter G，et al. Location， location，location：the position of authors in scholarly publishing [J]. Journal of Clinical Nursing，2012：809–811.

[23] Hu X. Loads of special authorship functions：Linear growth in the percentage of “equal first authors” and corresponding authors [J]. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology，2009，60（11）：2378–2381.

[24] Rees C A，Keating E M，Dearden K A，et al. Importance of authorship and inappropriate authorship assignment in paediatric research in low- and middle-income countries [J]. Tropical Medicine & International Health，2019，24（10）： 1229–1242.

[25] Katz J. Geographical proximity and scientific collaboration [J]. Scientometrics，1994，31（1）： 31–43.

[26] Hoekman J，Frenken K，Tijssen R J. Research collaboration at a distance：Changing spatial patterns of scientific collaboration within Europe [J]. Research Policy，2010，39（5）：662–673.

[27] Wanzenb?ck I，Scherngell T，Lata R. Embeddedness of European regions in European Union-funded research and development （R&D） networks： A spatial econometric perspective [J]. Regional Studies，2015，49（10）：1685–1705.

[28] 梁琦，李建成，夏添，等. 知识交流合作的空间溢出与邻近效应——来自长三角城市群的经验证据 [J]. 吉林大学社会科学学报，2019，59（2）： 41–51.

[29] Gaillard J. Use of publication lists to study scientific production and strategies of scientists in developing countries [J]. Scientometrics，1992，23（1）：57–73.

[30] Salager-Meyer F. Scientific publishing in developing countries：Challenges for the future [J]. Journal of English for Academic Purposes，2008，7（2）： 121–132.

[31] Bai X，Liu Y. International collaboration patterns and effecting factors of emerging technologies [J]. PloS one，2016，11（12）：e0167772.

[32] Shi W，Yang W，Du D. The scientific cooperation network of Chinese scientists and its proximity mechanism [J]. Sustainability，2020，12（2）： 660–678.

[33] Schubert A，Braun T. International collaboration in the sciences 1981–1985 [J]. Scientometrics，1990， 19（1/2）：3–10.

[34] 桂钦昌，杜德斌，刘承良. 全球科研合作网络的动态演化及其驱动机制 [J]. 地理学报，2023，78（2）： 423–442.

[35] Moran P A. The interpretation of statistical maps [J]. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B （Methodological），1948，10（2）：243–251.

[36] Ryu C，Kim Y J，Chaudhury A，et al. Knowledge acquisition via three learning processes in enterprise information portals：Learning-by-investment， learning-by-doing，and learning-from-others [J]. Mis Quarterly，2005，29（2）：245–278.

[37] 李永周，贺海涛，刘旸. 基于知识势差与耦合的产学研协同创新模型构建研究[J]. 工业技术经济，2014（ 1）：88–94.

[38] Bottazzi L，Peri G. Innovation and spillovers in regions：Evidence from European patent data [J]. European Economic Review，2003，47（4）：687–710.

[39] Confraria H，Blanckenberg J，Swart C. Which factors influence international research collaboration in Africa? [M]// Africa and The Sustainable Development Goals. Springer, Chan. 2020.

[40] 戴靓，刘承良，王嵩，等. 长三角城市科研合作的邻近性与自组织性 [J]. 地理研究，2022，41（9）： 2499–2515.