Amsterdam, 2 December 2009 – Elsevier announced today that its flagship product Scopus, the world’s largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, was chosen by Japan’s National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP) to conduct international research paper output analyses..This marks the first time an organization in Japan such as, NISTEP has selected a toll for use in this manner. NISTEP, affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), selected Scopus specifically to enhance their research performance analysis as Scopus provides wider coverage and efficiency compared to other databases.
According to their report, Comparative analysis of R&D inputs and outputs between Japan and major countries, NISTEP found that research paper production performance of higher education in Japan is comparable to that of other countries and concluded that contributions lie more prominently in the fields of science, engineering and agriculture. (Please see NISTEP REPORT No. 118 for details. English overview is under preparation. 
http://www.nistep.go.jp/index-e.html)
“Scopus can be a new candidate as a starting point, for comparison of international science and technology activities and data,” commented Masatsura Igami, Chief Researcher, Research Unit for Science and Technology Analysis and Indicators, NISTEP. He explained, “Scopus currently covers more than 15,600 titles, including nearly 400 Japanese titles, which is twice as many as the other database we used to rely on. Furthermore, Scopus has affiliation ID, and it saves time by dividing affiliations into specific research divisions. This way, we are able to take advantage of wider coverage and operation efficiencies. This research can be unique and useful because research paper analysis based on custom data is rare in terms of global analysis methodology trends.”
Herman van Campenhout, CEO of Elsevier Science and Technology, added,“It is clear that NISTEP used Scopus Custom Data for an unbiased comparison of research performance between Japan and other major countries. We are very pleased to be working with policy makers of such high calibre, as NISTEP and offer our continued support.”
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About NISTEP: National Institute of Science and Technology Policy
The National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP), founded in 1988, is one of the national research institutes affiliated with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). NISTEP supports Japan’s science and technology policy development and delivers worldwide research reports on major countries’ science and technology policy achievements and research trends. Four main research subjects are (1) Research on processes of R&D, (2) Research on adaptation processes of technology to economic and societal needs, (3) Research on comprehensive relationship between S&T and society, (4) Common, basic, or comprehensive research relating to the above areas. For more information, please visit
http://www.nistep.go.jp/index-e.html
About Scopus and Scopus Custom Data
Covering the world’s research literature, Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature and quality web sources with smart tools to track, analyze and visualize research. Its unique database contains abstracts and references from 18,000 peer-reviewed journals from more than 5,000 publishers worldwide, ensuring broad interdisciplinary coverage. In addition, Scopus not only offers users citation information about the articles covered, but also integrates web and patent searches directly from its clean and simple interface. Direct links to full-text articles, library resources and other applications like reference management software, make Scopus quicker, easier and more comprehensive to use than any other literature research tool. For more information about Scopus please visit
http://www.info.scopus.com
Scopus Custom Data provides research agencies, institutions and government bodies with customized datasets in XML format for large-scale research performance analysis. Scopus Custom Data extracts Scopus core records in accordance to each customer’s individual specifications, such as date range, subject categories and geographic location. The XML data can then be loaded by customers into their proprietary in-house systems, making it possible for them to run their specific search queries and execute their own analytical techniques; providing the analyst with the freedom to formulate their own reports. It empowers them to make well-informed, unbiased resource allocation and policy making decisions.
About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including
The Lancet and
Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier’s online solutions include
ScienceDirect,
Scopus,
Reaxys,
MD Consult and
Nursing Consult, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the
SciVal suite and
MEDai’s Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.
A global business headquartered in Amsterdam,
Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of
Reed Elsevier Group PLC, a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).
Media Contact:
Nami Kanda
Elsevier
+81 35561 5069
n.kanda@elsevier.com
