Highly Cited Researchers

According to a recent study, the most successful researchers worldwide work in the USA. In 2024, they once again achieved first place in the list of “Highly Cited Researchers” (HCR). More than 2,500 highly cited researchers in the USA attained a total of 36 percent of all papers published internationally.

The lead over the second-place contender, however, is beginning to shrink: since 2018, China has doubled its impact; its 1,400 highly cited researchers have reached a share of 20 percent. After the USA and China, the United Kingdom takes third place with 563 highly cited researchers, followed by Germany with 332 scientists.

This HCR study not only lists highly cited researchers according to country, but universities and research institutions are also included independently. Here, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing achieved first place.

The HCR database was created, and is held, by the company Clarivate Analytics. It comprises 22 scientific areas and roughly 6,700 highly cited researchers.

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