The Structure and Dynamic of Scientific Collaboration Network among Countries along the Belt and Road

Abstract

Although a number of studies have discussed the economic, geopolitical and environmental impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), there is a scarcity of analysis on the importance of science in the Belt and Road (B&R). Adopting bibliographical data from Clarivate Analytics’ Web of Science database for the period 2000–2018, this study investigates the network properties, topological structure, spatial pattern, position of countries, core-periphery sets, and the hierarchy of the network from a dynamic perspective. The results show that scientific collaboration is increasingly frequent. The “hub-and-spoke” and triangulated structures coexist, shaping the landscape of the network. With the decline of Central and Eastern Europe, and the rise of the Asia-Pacific region, the spatial pattern evolves from ‘‘strong Western and weak Eastern” to ‘‘weak Western and strong Eastern’’. The central position has been occupied by India, China, and Turkey, while Russia’s influence has lessened over time. Moreover, the collaboration network is a typical core–periphery structure with prominent hierarchical features. China, Poland, and Saudi Arabia are the top-tier coordination centers within sub-networks. Finally, this study provides policy recommendations and prospective research directions.

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