2022 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

The 2022 Research Leaders are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021.

Table criteria

Region/country

Sector

Subject/journals

#	Institution	Share 2020	Share 2021	Count 2021	Change in Adjusted Share* 2020–2021
1	Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), South Korea	107.66	108.71	260	-6.5%
2	Seoul National University (SNU), South Korea	78.08	89.98	284	6.7%
3	Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), South Korea	50.87	68.42	192	24.5%
4	Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), South Korea	50.39	64.00	221	17.6%
5	Yonsei University, South Korea	44.32	57.25	230	19.6%
6	Korea University, South Korea	41.15	43.42	210	-2.3%
7	Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), South Korea	55.98	39.72	115	-34.3%
8	Hanyang University (HYU), South Korea	21.51	23.96	130	3.1%
9	Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea	14.27	17.54	47	13.8%
10	Kyung Hee University (KHU), South Korea	17.76	15.69	104	-18.2%
11	Chung-Ang University (CAU), South Korea	10.44	13.21	37	17.0%
12	Sogang University, South Korea	10.14	11.06	34	1.0%
13	Kyungpook National University (KNU), South Korea	7.46	10.30	100	27.9%
14	Pusan National University (PNU), South Korea	7.46	10.01	63	24.3%
15	Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), South Korea	7.01	9.52	29	25.6%
16	Chungnam National University (CNU), South Korea	3.72	8.63	33	114.7%
17	Dongguk University, South Korea	2.58	7.16	23	156.5%
18	Ewha Womans University (Ewha), South Korea	3.54	7.16	43	86.9%
19	Inha University, South Korea	3.85	6.63	45	59.5%
20	Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), South Korea	2.64	5.85	13	105.0%
21	Kwangwoon University, South Korea	4.70	5.69	10	12.1%
22	Gyeongsang National University (GNU), South Korea	2.17	5.39	34	130.3%
23	Ajou University (AJOU), South Korea	6.24	4.82	18	-28.5%
24	University of Science and Technology (UST), South Korea	4.90	4.71	62	-10.9%
25	University of Seoul (UOS), South Korea	4.45	4.61	59	-4.2%
26	Konkuk University, South Korea	4.53	4.46	18	-8.9%
27	Sejong University, South Korea	5.12	4.29	81	-22.4%
28	Chonnam National University, South Korea	3.91	4.16	76	-1.4%
29	Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), South Korea	6.66	3.57	46	-50.5%
30	Kangwon National University, South Korea	1.03	3.03	15	173.0%
31	Incheon National University (INU), South Korea	1.07	2.61	11	125.9%
32	Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT), South Korea	1.01	2.56	7	134.5%
33	Chungbuk National University, South Korea	1.65	2.26	27	26.6%
34	Pukyong National University (PKNU), South Korea	0.95	2.01	13	96.6%
35	Tech University of Korea (TU Korea), South Korea	0.27	2.00	3	591.1%
36	CHA University (CHA), South Korea	0.47	1.90	4	272.0%
37	Sookmyung Women's University, South Korea	1.95	1.76	12	-16.6%
38	Soongsil University, South Korea	1.33	1.76	29	22.4%
39	Yeungnam University, South Korea	1.34	1.75	6	20.2%
40	University of Ulsan (UOU), South Korea	3.62	1.67	15	-57.3%
41	Kookmin University, South Korea	2.73	1.51	8	-48.7%
42	Kunsan National University, South Korea	1.28	1.45	5	4.3%
43	The Catholic University of Korea, South Korea	1.60	1.14	4	-34.0%
44	Dankook University (DKU), South Korea	1.03	1.13	8	1.3%
45	Gachon University (GCU), South Korea	1.20	1.01	5	-22.4%
46	Changwon National University, South Korea	0.25	0.92	2	235.4%
47	Dong-A University, South Korea	0.20	0.87	3	301.5%
48	Kumoh National Institute of Technology (KIT), South Korea	0.07	0.83	5	980.5%
49	Jeonju University, South Korea	0.45	0.74	2	52.4%
50	Korea Aerospace University (KAU), South Korea	0.00	0.70	2	0.0%
51	Dong-Eui University, South Korea	0.00	0.67	1	0.0%
52	Hanbat National University, South Korea	0.18	0.56	4	186.4%
53	Mokpo National Maritime University, South Korea	0.00	0.50	1	0.0%
54	Chosun University, South Korea	0.52	0.46	3	-17.4%
55	Hongik University, South Korea	0.77	0.41	4	-50.2%
56	Myongji University, South Korea	0.40	0.38	3	-13.1%
57	Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology (GNTECH), South Korea	0.74	0.25	3	-68.4%
58	Sangji University, South Korea	0.00	0.25	1	0.0%
59	Sunchon National University (SCNU), South Korea	0.33	0.22	3	-38.3%
60	Wonkwang University, South Korea	0.40	0.22	2	-49.9%
61	Kyungnam University, South Korea	0.00	0.21	2	0.0%
62	Hannam University, South Korea	0.16	0.20	2	19.0%
63	Kongju National University, South Korea	0.51	0.17	3	-68.8%
64	Korea Maritime and Ocean University, South Korea	0.00	0.17	2	0.0%
64	Joongbu University, South Korea	0.00	0.17	1	0.0%
65	Mokpo National University, South Korea	0.23	0.14	1	-42.7%
66	Handong Global University (HGU), South Korea	0.07	0.13	1	62.0%
66	Sahmyook University, South Korea	0.33	0.13	1	-65.3%
67	Keimyung University (KMU), South Korea	0.08	0.11	1	31.1%
68	Kyonggi University (KGU), South Korea	0.11	0.10	1	-16.7%
68	Cheongju University, South Korea	0.00	0.10	1	0.0%
69	Semyung University, South Korea	0.00	0.09	1	0.0%
69	Gyeongbuk IT Convergence Industrial Technology Institute, South Korea	0.00	0.09	1	0.0%
70	Jeju National University, South Korea	3.25	0.09	3	-97.5%
71	Korea National University of Education (KNUE), South Korea	0.50	0.08	1	-84.6%
72	Dongshin University, South Korea	0.36	0.07	1	-81.8%
73	Soonchunhyang University (SCH), South Korea	0.00	0.06	5	0.0%
74	Hankyong National University, South Korea	0.00	0.06	1	0.0%
75	Gangneung-Wonju National University (GWNU), South Korea	0.04	0.04	21	-11.8%
76	Seoyeong University, South Korea	0.07	0.04	1	-52.3%
77	Seoul National University of Education (SNEU), South Korea	0.15	0.01	1	-95.2%
78	Gwangju National University of Education (GNUE), South Korea	0.20	0.01	2	-97.3%
79	Inje University, South Korea	0.12	0.00	3	-96.8%

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.
Nature Index data and methods are transparent and available under a creative commons licence at nature.com/nature-index/.
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The Nature Index database undergoes regular updating, corrections, adjustment of institutional hierarchies, and removal of retracted papers and thus the live website can differ from the frozen research leaders.

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2022 Research Leaders: Leading academic institutions in physical sciences

Table criteria

Footnote