2017 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

The 2017 Research Leaders are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016.

Table criteria

Region/country

Sector

Subject/journals

#	Institution	Share 2015	Share 2016	Count 2016	Change in Adjusted Share* 2015–2016
1	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea	86.17	90.40	190	7.4%
2	Seoul National University (SNU), South Korea	86.16	70.74	230	-16.0%
3	Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea	60.94	52.43	124	-11.9%
4	Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea	52.02	48.56	175	-4.4%
5	Yonsei University, South Korea	40.98	33.34	95	-16.7%
6	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea	38.60	31.47	73	-16.5%
7	Korea University, South Korea	34.81	24.90	134	-26.8%
8	Hanyang University (HYU), South Korea	19.27	22.51	88	19.6%
9	Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea	16.64	17.86	40	9.8%
10	Sogang University, South Korea	16.73	13.32	25	-18.5%
11	Kyung Hee University (KHU), South Korea	13.73	8.52	24	-36.5%
12	Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea	7.18	6.97	14	-0.6%
13	Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea	2.07	5.45	16	169.1%
14	Ewha Womans University (Ewha), South Korea	11.49	5.43	29	-51.7%
15	Pusan National University (PNU), South Korea	4.97	5.41	55	11.6%
16	Chungnam National University (CNU), South Korea	3.37	4.95	17	50.1%
17	Dongguk University, South Korea	3.78	4.87	18	31.9%
18	Kyungpook National University (KNU), South Korea	6.81	4.87	76	-26.8%
19	University of Seoul (UOS), South Korea	3.11	4.54	62	49.7%
20	Incheon National University (INU), South Korea	1.70	4.41	11	166.3%
21	Konkuk University, South Korea	6.19	3.72	30	-38.5%
22	Sejong University, South Korea	2.91	3.64	30	28.1%
23	Inha University, South Korea	4.15	3.64	35	-10.2%
24	University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea	2.61	3.61	27	41.6%
25	Kookmin University, South Korea	2.30	3.23	6	43.6%
26	Soongsil University, South Korea	2.67	2.44	19	-6.6%
27	Ajou University (AJOU), South Korea	2.55	2.36	7	-5.2%
28	Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), South Korea	3.40	2.28	60	-31.5%
29	Pukyong National University (PKNU), South Korea	0.26	2.19	10	772.0%
30	Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), South Korea	2.29	1.75	9	-21.8%
31	University of Ulsan (UOU), South Korea	2.59	1.56	14	-38.5%
32	Chonnam National University, South Korea	3.12	1.54	57	-49.4%
33	Kwangwoon University, South Korea	4.43	1.39	3	-67.9%
34	Yeungnam University, South Korea	0.31	1.36	8	348.5%
35	Hongik University, South Korea	0.71	1.17	2	67.9%
36	Myongji University, South Korea	0.78	1.11	6	45.8%
37	The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea	0.55	1.10	2	105.6%
37	Sunchon National University (SCNU), South Korea	0.33	1.10	2	237.8%
38	Seonam University, South Korea	0.00	1.08	2	0.0%
39	Handong Global University (HGU), South Korea	0.00	1.00	1	0.0%
40	Kumoh National Institute of Technology (KIT), South Korea	0.31	0.92	2	203.1%
41	Sookmyung Women's University, South Korea	0.08	0.80	6	884.9%
42	Kongju National University, South Korea	0.10	0.76	3	675.4%
43	Hoseo University, South Korea	0.00	0.75	1	0.0%
43	Wonkwang University, South Korea	0.00	0.75	2	0.0%
44	Chungbuk National University, South Korea	0.68	0.70	3	5.4%
45	Dankook University (DKU), South Korea	3.61	0.56	2	-84.2%
46	Korea Aerospace University (KAU), South Korea	0.49	0.53	3	11.2%
47	Kunsan National University, South Korea	0.37	0.50	1	39.1%
47	Inje University, South Korea	0.17	0.50	1	207.1%
48	Kangwon National University, South Korea	0.96	0.47	44	-50.0%
49	Gyeongsang National University (GNU), South Korea	2.04	0.41	5	-79.3%
50	Korea Maritime and Ocean University, South Korea	0.00	0.39	2	0.0%
51	Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT), South Korea	0.00	0.29	1	0.0%
52	Dong-Eui University, South Korea	0.36	0.25	2	-28.0%
53	Dong-A University, South Korea	1.57	0.25	1	-83.7%
54	Hallym University, South Korea	0.13	0.21	2	70.6%
55	Chosun University, South Korea	0.23	0.20	1	-9.5%
55	Changwon National University, South Korea	0.78	0.20	1	-73.7%
56	Anyang University, South Korea	0.00	0.18	2	0.0%
57	Daejeon University, South Korea	0.00	0.17	1	0.0%
58	Tech University of Korea (TU Korea), South Korea	0.67	0.14	1	-78.1%
58	Soonchunhyang University (SCH), South Korea	0.05	0.14	1	221.7%
59	Hanbat National University, South Korea	0.53	0.14	2	-73.8%
60	Gachon University (GCU), South Korea	1.09	0.13	1	-88.3%
60	University of Suwon (USW), South Korea	0.00	0.13	1	0.0%
61	Konyang University, South Korea	0.00	0.12	1	0.0%
62	Korea University of Technology and Education (Korea Tech), South Korea	0.00	0.09	1	0.0%
62	Kyonggi University (KGU), South Korea	0.08	0.09	1	11.7%
63	Gangneung-Wonju National University (GWNU), South Korea	0.15	0.08	16	-47.5%
64	Dongshin University, South Korea	0.00	0.07	1	0.0%
65	Seoyeong University, South Korea	0.00	0.03	1	0.0%

Each year, the Nature Index publishes tables based on counts of high-quality research outputs in the previous calendar year. Users please note:

The data behind the tables are based on a relatively small proportion of total research papers, they cover the natural sciences and health sciences only and outputs are non-normalized (that is, they don’t reflect the size of the country or institution, or its overall research output).
The Nature Index is one indicator of institutional research performance. The metrics of Count and Share used to order Nature Index listings are based on an institution’s or country’s publication output in 145 natural-science and health-science journals. The journals were selected on reputation by an independent panel of leading scientists in their fields. The list is reviewed periodically and journals may be removed or added. Articles from eLife were no longer included in the Nature Index from 2023 after the journal changed its publishing model.
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2017 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

Table criteria

Footnote