Trend in research output and collaboration pattern among BRICS countries: A scientometric study

This paper attempts to evaluate the trend of research output of the business group countries, known as the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) on the basis of research papers/articles indexed in Web of Science online database for the 20 years period from 1994-2013. A total of 2552490 records were retrieved for BRICS, which is 10.67% of the global records for the twenty years´ period. A maximum of 12.43% papers have been indexed in 2013 against 1.51% in 1994. A scientometric assessment of the trend of research papers have been presented in the study by way of analysing; annual output of research papers of BRICS countries to the global share, growth trend of the publications, country-wise individual share, collaboration pattern with global countries and amongst/within the BRICS; top ranked institutions, subject dispersion and top ranked journals. The study may be useful to subject specialists, analysts, researchers, students, policy makers, institute administrators, faculty and the administrators of the BRICS countries to understand the trends and make effective policies, future collaboration, citation pattern, etc. on the basis of inferences drawn in this paper.