Increased Number of Scopus Articles from Indonesia from 1945 To 2020, an Analysis of International Collaboration, and a Comparison with other Asean Countries from 2016 to 2020

Abstract

Background: The government of the Republic of Indonesia has set a target for the international publication of 31,159 papers in 2024, according to the 2020–2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan [1], since international publications are acknowledged as an indicator of increased productivity and competitiveness in the field of science and technology. In addition, in the 2017–2045 National Research Master Plan, the Indonesian government has set a productivity target for 2,045 of 22 reputable international scientific publications for every 100 science and technology human resources [2]. Thus, the Indonesian government has implemented reputable international scientific publications as an output indicator for this policy. This choice was based on the consideration that an increasing number of reputable international scientific publications reflects the ability to create science and technology-based inventions as the upstream facilitators of innovative products with high economic value. This view is also in accordance with previous research results pointing out that the “Circular No. 08” policy in Vietnam has played an essential role in accelerating the productivity of scientists in the country by generating an increasing number of international publications [3]. In addition, the formation of international collaborations in Iran has been acknowledged based on its international publications [4]. Objectives: This essay aimed to explore the research output of Indonesian researchers in international publications from 1945 to 2020, with a particular focus on international collaborations of Indonesian authors. A comparison was also conducted using data from five other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Vietnam) from 2016 to 2020.