Scientific and Technical Productivity of African Countries: What Scopus and WIPO Patentscope Data Tell Us?

Abstract

This study maps the scientific publication and patenting activity of the member countries of the African Union (AU) using different Scientometrics indicators. This study uses the Scopus data of Elsevier science. Scopus extensively covers global as well as African scholarly literature. This study traces the literature growth, subject wise productivity and citation pattern of AU member countries. Besides the literature data, this study also maps the patenting activity using data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) PATENTSCOPE database. The study observed a visible growth in publication since the last decade. The major activity is in Medicine related subject areas followed by Agriculture and Biological Science. The publications from African countries are well-cited (9.08 per paper) and above the average of Asian and Latin American countries but below the world average. The patenting activity as reflected from WIPO data, is limited and South Africa is the only country with quite a visible number of patents. The outcome and the recommendations of this study will undoubtedly be useful for scholars, policy, and decision-makers in the governments of the member states of AU.