2018 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

The 2018 Research Leaders are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2017.

Table criteria

Region/country

Sector

Subject/journals

#	Institution	Share 2016	Share 2017	Count 2017	Change in Adjusted Share* 2016–2017
1	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea	90.40	89.26	191	-2.4%
2	Seoul National University (SNU), South Korea	70.74	71.26	263	-0.4%
3	Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea	48.56	45.03	184	-8.4%
4	Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea	52.43	43.55	118	-17.9%
5	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea	31.47	42.95	88	34.9%
6	Yonsei University, South Korea	33.34	30.88	100	-8.5%
7	Korea University, South Korea	24.90	25.37	160	0.7%
8	Hanyang University (HYU), South Korea	22.51	21.43	140	-5.9%
9	Kyung Hee University (KHU), South Korea	8.52	11.13	26	29.1%
10	Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea	17.86	9.31	23	-48.5%
11	Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea	6.97	7.25	26	2.8%
12	Dongguk University, South Korea	4.87	6.83	15	38.6%
13	Pusan National University (PNU), South Korea	5.41	6.73	58	22.8%
14	Sejong University, South Korea	3.64	6.71	34	82.0%
15	Sogang University, South Korea	13.32	6.35	20	-52.9%
16	Ajou University (AJOU), South Korea	2.36	5.86	19	145.1%
17	Ewha Womans University (Ewha), South Korea	5.43	5.32	21	-3.2%
18	Kyungpook National University (KNU), South Korea	4.87	4.67	101	-5.1%
19	Kookmin University, South Korea	3.23	4.61	9	40.8%
20	University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea	3.61	4.48	32	22.6%
21	Chonnam National University, South Korea	1.54	3.98	92	154.9%
22	Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), South Korea	2.28	3.84	85	66.4%
23	Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea	5.45	3.76	20	-31.7%
24	Chungnam National University (CNU), South Korea	4.95	3.64	18	-27.3%
25	University of Seoul (UOS), South Korea	4.54	3.25	78	-29.3%
26	Konkuk University, South Korea	3.72	2.73	37	-27.4%
27	University of Ulsan (UOU), South Korea	1.56	2.52	13	59.9%
28	Soongsil University, South Korea	2.44	2.26	20	-8.3%
29	Inha University, South Korea	3.64	2.22	25	-39.8%
30	Kangwon National University, South Korea	0.47	1.87	10	294.9%
31	Korea Aerospace University (KAU), South Korea	0.53	1.87	4	245.9%
32	Yeungnam University, South Korea	1.36	1.85	8	33.9%
33	Dankook University (DKU), South Korea	0.56	1.83	5	226.4%
34	Pukyong National University (PKNU), South Korea	2.19	1.53	7	-31.2%
35	Kumoh National Institute of Technology (KIT), South Korea	0.92	1.50	2	61.7%
36	Incheon National University (INU), South Korea	4.41	1.46	8	-67.3%
37	Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT), South Korea	0.29	1.33	2	361.2%
38	Dong-A University, South Korea	0.25	1.17	2	361.2%
39	Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), South Korea	1.75	1.04	4	-41.3%
40	Gyeongsang National University (GNU), South Korea	0.41	1.02	6	145.0%
41	Hanbat National University, South Korea	0.14	1.00	2	624.8%
41	Soonchunhyang University (SCH), South Korea	0.14	1.00	1	591.8%
42	Chungbuk National University, South Korea	0.70	0.99	7	40.7%
43	Korea Maritime and Ocean University, South Korea	0.39	0.95	2	138.3%
44	Kwangwoon University, South Korea	1.39	0.78	5	-44.5%
45	Sookmyung Women's University, South Korea	0.80	0.68	9	-16.1%
46	Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS), South Korea	0.00	0.50	1	0.0%
47	Kongju National University, South Korea	0.76	0.49	2	-36.0%
48	Sunchon National University (SCNU), South Korea	1.10	0.48	3	-57.3%
49	Gachon University (GCU), South Korea	0.13	0.45	4	252.6%
50	Daegu University, South Korea	0.00	0.45	3	0.0%
51	Myongji University, South Korea	1.11	0.40	2	-64.9%
52	Mokpo National University, South Korea	0.00	0.34	2	0.0%
53	CHA University (CHA), South Korea	0.00	0.33	4	0.0%
53	Sangmyung University, South Korea	0.00	0.33	1	0.0%
54	Kunsan National University, South Korea	0.50	0.31	2	-38.8%
55	Wonkwang University, South Korea	0.75	0.31	4	-59.6%
56	University of Suwon (USW), South Korea	0.13	0.27	2	110.8%
57	Daejeon University, South Korea	0.17	0.25	1	48.2%
58	Dongduk Women's University (DWU), South Korea	0.00	0.24	2	0.0%
58	The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea	1.10	0.24	2	-78.8%
59	Hongik University, South Korea	1.17	0.22	1	-81.2%
60	Cheongju University, South Korea	0.00	0.17	2	0.0%
61	Kyungil University, South Korea	0.00	0.13	1	0.0%
62	Hallym University, South Korea	0.21	0.09	1	-56.9%
63	Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology (GNTECH), South Korea	0.00	0.07	3	0.0%
64	Gangneung-Wonju National University (GWNU), South Korea	0.08	0.06	18	-15.0%
65	Kyonggi University (KGU), South Korea	0.09	0.06	1	-32.1%
65	Gwangju Health University, South Korea	0.00	0.06	1	0.0%
66	Hankyong National University, South Korea	0.00	0.05	1	0.0%
66	Daegu Haany University, South Korea	0.00	0.05	1	0.0%
67	Inje University, South Korea	0.50	0.02	13	-96.1%
68	Hoseo University, South Korea	0.75	0.01	1	-98.1%

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.
Nature Index recognizes that many other factors must be taken into account when considering research quality and institutional performance; Nature Index metrics alone should not be used to assess institutions or individuals.
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2018 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

Table criteria

Footnote