Greece's progress in science was remarkable in the decade before the country's severe economic downturn at the end of 2008. Although subsequent research output has been sustained against the odds, prompt and coordinated action is now needed to avert a crisis.

During 1999–2009, the proportion of papers published worldwide that included at least one Greek author rose from 0.43% to 0.76%, and Greece moved up from 31st to 24th in the global ranking of annual publications (data from Scopus, derived using SCImago; www.scimagojr.com). At the peak of its research output in 2009, Greece had a greater scientific output per capita than France, Italy or Japan — despite the Greek government's record of under-investment in research.

Because Greece's research budget has since fallen behind that of the rest of Europe, this peak has become a plateau — unlike in almost all other European Union countries, where publication output is rising. Hiring of staff has ceased and researchers' salary cuts are killing competitiveness and leading to a mass exodus to foreign labs.

To avoid a descent back to last century's rankings, it is vital that Greece uses its resources creatively and efficiently by instigating essential structural reforms, including a national science plan, evaluation of funding allocation, and university restructuring. It should also encourage stronger cooperation among national research centres and more international collaboration.