Scientific and social impact for middle-income countries, in cooperation with national and international partners

Scientific and social impact

the Scientific impact of Dutch UMCs have been at a particularly high level for years. On average, research from middle-income countries is cited at a rate approximately fifty to one hundred percent higher than the world average. This allows Dutch UMC universities to compete with the best European and American institutions such as the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford and Harvard.

Medical scientific research at UMCs is closely linked to: Social influence; Whether it is a basic understanding of disease and health, or clinical research to develop new diagnostic or treatment methods. A bibliometric analysis of MIC publications shows that these publications can be found in clinical guidelines, policy documents, patent applications and in the media. Patients therefore directly benefit from this research through new or improved diagnostic and treatment methods. In addition, this research provides tools to adjust government policy and its results contribute to our economic growth.

During the Covid period, UMCs have shown that they are able to respond quickly to pressing social issues. For example, the analysis shows that more than 4,000 studies on COVID-19 were published between 2020 and 2022, ranging from basic research, epidemiological research, public health research, and clinical research.

President of the Dutch National Union Bertin Lahuis: “A recent report by Elsevier indicated that science in the Netherlands is among the best in the world. We have already mentioned the significant significant influence of medical sciences separately. The CWTS analysis confirms this influence; scientific and social.”

Accessible

Clinical studies are indispensable for the development of new diagnostics and treatments. this Impact analysis These studies can already be found in clinical guidelines, he explains. But this CWTS analysis also provides insight into the fact that these important studies are increasingly being conducted within UMCs. A trend that started 25 years ago.

As a knowledge enterprise, UMCs consider knowledge sharing an important topic. UMCs do this, among other things, by publishing more and more open access articles. That’s what the share is Open access– Publications increased from 70% in 2018 to 87% in 2021. This makes the vast majority of research results from UMCs accessible to everyone in the world, promoting innovation in healthcare around the world.

Regional and international

In health care, we face major social issues. Challenges that require cooperation. So it is not without reason that we see this Impact analysis There is collaboration in approximately 90% of all UMC publications. In one third of publications with national and regional partners and in two thirds of cases with international partners. More than three-quarters of these publications mention a researcher from the UMCs as the principal investigator, indicating the crucial role played by the Dutch UMCs in these publications.

Arno Hues, Dean and Vice-President of UMC Utrecht and Chairman of the NFU Education and Research Management Committee: “This report shows once again that investment in medical scientific research in the Netherlands is paying off. Through our national and international partnerships and the integration of care, research and education, UMCs in the Netherlands are making a significant contribution to Social issues in health care.