Academic development in computer science reflects the advances, trends, and emerging areas of research within the discipline

Last revision date: 09/02/2024

In the digital age, it is essential to understand the academic field of computer science, as it provides relevant information about the constant evolution of innovation and technology. Bibliometrics is used to evaluate academic progress in this field.

Bibliometrics is a discipline that uses mathematical and statistical methods to analyze and measure aspects related to the production, dissemination, and use of information in academic literature. In the context of computer science, bibliometrics is a valuable tool for understanding the academic landscape, identifying opportunities and challenges, and providing key information that supports the effective formulation and implementation of digital public policies.

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the evaluation of academic progress in the field of computer science. Specifically, it focuses on measuring productivity and influence in the scientific and academic sphere of the region in the context of computer science research.

The results of the bibliometric study are obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) database from Clarivate, which contains citations from scientific journals. Only journals belonging to the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) subgroup of Web of Science are considered.

For this study, four types of documents from scientific journals are considered: scientific articles, letters, notes, and reviews. Scientific documents such as letters to the editor, biographies, among others, are excluded. The study was conducted in December 2022 and includes publications from 2010.

The following indicators are used:

• •Total scientific documents (TD): number of scientific documents published in indexed journals.
• •Total citations (TC): number of citations obtained by these published articles. It is an indicator of scientific influence. The higher the number of citations, the more influential the country is considered.
• •Total citations per document (TC/TD): ratio of citations obtained per document published. It represents a combination of both productivity and scientific influence.
• •Total scientific documents per population (TD/Pob.): rratio of scientific documents per million inhabitants. It allows normalizing scientific productivity by population.

Data on academic research in computer science in Latin America and the Caribbean offer a multifaceted view of the region's status in the global academic landscape. While countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Chile have shown strong publication and citation records, demonstrating their growing influence, other nations are working to establish a stronger presence. Research production in the region, although variable, shows an upward trend, reflecting a commitment to innovation and scientific advancement. The emergence of specific areas of specialization, such as artificial intelligence and information systems, underscores the region's ability to adapt to constantly evolving scientific trends. However, there is a clear need for collaboration and knowledge sharing among countries, with the aim of further strengthening Latin America's presence on the world stage and improving its contributions to the ever-changing field of computer science.

The detailed analysis of scientific research in Latin America and the Caribbean highlights multiple countries for their outstanding performance in the scientific field. Among them, Chile stands out for its strong productivity with 169.34 scientific documents per million inhabitants, demonstrating a firm commitment to research production. Uruguay, with a smaller population, exhibits significant productivity of 92.23 documents per million inhabitants, highlighting its vital contribution to the regional scientific landscape. Additionally, Brazil emerges as a leader with 16,977 documents, evidencing a prominent presence in scientific research in the region.

Mexico, while showing a substantial contribution in terms of research, goes beyond the quantity of publications by demonstrating a significant impact in the scientific field. These countries, with diverse profiles in terms of scientific production and their influence in the scientific community, emphasize the variety of contributions and the potential for further growth and development in research in Latin America and the Caribbean. The disparity in scientific production and impact among different countries underscores the importance of research collaboration to elevate the scientific contributions of nations with lower citation rates and ensure collective progress in the region.

Scientific documents in technology, world regions, 2010 to 2022

(In quantity)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The data shows the number of scientific publications in computer science since 2010. With 34,053 documents, the region demonstrates a growing presence in scientific research. While Asia and Europe maintain their dominance, the increasing production of publications from Latin America and the Caribbean is a testament to their growing importance in the global scientific community.

Scientific documents in technology, Latin America and the Caribbean countries, 2010 to 2022

(In quantity)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate..

As the graph shows, Brazil emerges as a leading country with 16,977 documents. Although countries like Mexico, Chile, and Argentina also make substantial contributions, it is essential to recognize that scientific production varies widely in the region.

Six countries in the region had no publications during this period, which are: (1) Antigua and Barbuda, (2) Bahamas, (3) Dominica, (4) Saint Kitts and Nevis, (5) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and (6) Saint Lucia.

Scientific documents in technology by subcategory, Latin America and the Caribbean, 2010 to 2022

(In percentage)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The graph presents the substantial contribution of the region in various subcategories of computer science since 2010. While "Information Systems" and "Artificial Intelligence" lead with 11,259 and 8,180 documents, respectively, it is evident that the region actively contributes to multiple domains in the field. The significant presence in areas such as "Automation and Control Systems" and "Software Engineering" shows the diversity of specialized knowledge and indicates the potential for continuous growth and innovation in these scientific disciplines throughout the region.

Bibliographic citations obtained by documents published in technology, world regions, 2010 to 2022

(In quantity)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate..

The total of 437,348 bibliographic citations from Latin America and the Caribbean since 2010 demonstrate their academic influence and impact on research. Although these figures may seem lower compared to Asia and the Pacific, Europe, and North America, they are a testament to the region's growing academic presence. The region is significantly contributing to the global research landscape.

Bibliographic citations obtained by documents published in technology, Latin America and the Caribbean countries, 2010 to 2022

(In quantity)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

While Brazil and Mexico lead both in the number of publications and citations, other countries like Chile and Colombia demonstrate a significant research impact, regardless of their number of publications. These data highlight the diversity of the region's academic contributions and underline that the quality and influence of research are not solely determined by the quantity of publications. Thus, the data underscores the importance of recognizing the impact of research across different countries in the region.

Ratio of bibliographic citations obtained per scientific document published in technology, world regions, 2010 to 2022

(Number of citations per document)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

While North America and Europe have higher citation rates per document, the region stands out with a rate of almost 13 citations per document published. This demonstrates the region's considerable influence and productivity in research, highlighting its substantial contribution to computer science.

Ratio of bibliographic citations obtained per scientific document published in technology, Latin America and the Caribbean countries, 2010 to 2022

(Number of citations per document)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The analysis of the TC/TD data shows interesting results about scientific impact and productivity in the region. Surprisingly, Barbados and Haiti stand out with the highest TC/TD ratios, meaning that their publications receive a significant number of citations despite their relatively lower number of scientific documents. Chile closely follows, exhibiting a balance between productivity and influence. In a broader context, the productivity and scientific influence of larger nations like Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia stand out. However, the outstanding performance of smaller nations like Uruguay and Cuba, with higher TC/TD ratios, highlights their valuable contribution to the scientific landscape. These data show a diverse picture of scientific participation in Latin America and the Caribbean, where both small and large nations play integral roles.

Scientific documents published in technology per million inhabitants, world regions, 2010 to 2022

(Documents published per million inhabitants)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The analysis of scientific productivity normalized by population yields interesting data, especially in the context of Latin America and the Caribbean, where approximately 52 scientific documents are published per million inhabitants. This result reflects an active participation in scientific document production in the region. Comparatively, other regions, such as North America and Europe, present higher ratios, with 496.60 and 388.28 documents per million inhabitants, respectively. This information highlights the region's significant contribution to the global scientific scene and suggests even broader potential for research development at the regional level.

Scientific documents published in technology per million inhabitants, Latin America and the Caribbean countries, 2010 to 2022

(Documents published per million inhabitants)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The analysis of scientific productivity normalized by population (TD/Pob) among the countries in the region since 2010 provides valuable insights. Chile leads with a remarkable value of 169.34 scientific documents per million inhabitants, reflecting a strong commitment to research production. Uruguay, with 92.23, and Brazil, with 79.21, also show substantial productivity. These figures highlight the diverse contributions of the region to the scientific landscape, while also underscoring areas with potential for further research engagement and collaboration, ensuring sustainable scientific development in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Scientific documents published in technology per million inhabitants, Latin America and the Caribbean countries, 2010 to 2022

(Documents published per million inhabitants)

Fuente: own elaboration based on Web of Science (WoS) data from Clarivate.

The evolution of the number of scientific articles published per million inhabitants in Latin America and the Caribbean from 2010 to 2022 demonstrates an upward trajectory. The region has steadily increased its scientific production, almost tripling the number of publications in this period. While this is an encouraging growth, there is room for further development and collaboration in the region's research landscape. Compared to other regions, such as North America and Europe, the per capita productivity of research in Latin America and the Caribbean remains lower, indicating potential for enhancing scientific engagement and international cooperation. As the region continues to invest in research and innovation, it promises to make more substantial contributions to the global scientific community.