The Nordic Countries are a Leading Research Region

– We should utilise the Nordic core strengths so that other countries become aware of our competencies. We will have a stronger position and our message can be brought across more easily if we stand together. Like Silicon Valley in California, which is widely known as a region with innovative computer technologies, we should work to ensure that the Nordic countries become a gathering point known all over the world for pioneering research, says Science Minister Helge Sander.

If we look at the impact of scientific papers in terms of citations per paper calculated for a four-year period, the Nordic rankings are fine. For instance, Danish researchers come in second after Switzerland.

Measured by the number of scientific papers per million inhabitants, Switzerland has the highest score among OECD countries. The Swiss are followed directly by the Nordic countries at the next five places, ahead of countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada.

While the number of scientific papers is an expression of the productivity of the researchers, the number of citations is an expression of the impact of the papers in terms of how often the researchers are quoting other scientific papers.

– We should of course be pleased with the fine Nordic rankings, but we should also use this status to profile ourselves as a strong common research region, says Helge Sander.

• Nordic researchers are among the most productive and impactful in the world

Science Minister Helge Sander can be contacted via the Ministry's press officer, Charlotte Holst, phone +45 22 11 02 00 or chhh@vtu.dk.