26 M. M. Bugge et al.
distribution. There are 249 categories applied in the database, but for many
categories this is just a very minor topic so far. Most important are three categories belonging to the natural sciences and technological sciences:
biotechnology & applied microbiology, energy & fuels, and environmental
sciences. Social science studies are less visible in the sample. The 15 most
prominent categories are summarised in Figure 2.2 and the complete overview is listed in a table in Appendix C.
In summary, the bibliometric analysis highlights that bioeconomy research
has become more visible over the last few years. Almost three- fourths of the
papers are co- authored by researchers affiliated to a higher education institution, while researchers from private firms are much less visible. The research
community is still rather fragmented, with a core of European and American
regional clusters most active and networked in the field. Conversely, organisations from other parts of the world are much less connected to the network
of bioeconomy research. Topic- wise, the research field appears fragmented,
dispersed over many fields of science. It is, however, dominated by natural
and engineering sciences, while the social sciences are less visible.
2.4 Bioeconomy visions
Considering the many origins and the wide diffusion of the bioeconomy
concept across multiple scientific fields, the aim of this section is to examine
7.1
7.8
10.5
12.1
12.5
13.8
14.5
14.8
16.1
16.5
16.9
20.9
36.8
40.2
76.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Social Sciences, Biomedical
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Plant Sciences
Agricultural Engineering
Agronomy
Chemistry, Applied
Forestry
Engineering, Chemical
Food Science & Technology
Engineering, Environmental
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Environmental Sciences
Energy & Fuels
Biotechnology and
Applied Microbiology
Figure 2.2 Share of Web of Science categories, based on weighted counts (n = 453).
distribution. There are 249 categories applied in the database, but for many
categories this is just a very minor topic so far. Most important are three categories belonging to the natural sciences and technological sciences:
biotechnology & applied microbiology, energy & fuels, and environmental
sciences. Social science studies are less visible in the sample. The 15 most
prominent categories are summarised in Figure 2.2 and the complete overview is listed in a table in Appendix C.
In summary, the bibliometric analysis highlights that bioeconomy research
has become more visible over the last few years. Almost three- fourths of the
papers are co- authored by researchers affiliated to a higher education institution, while researchers from private firms are much less visible. The research
community is still rather fragmented, with a core of European and American
regional clusters most active and networked in the field. Conversely, organisations from other parts of the world are much less connected to the network
of bioeconomy research. Topic- wise, the research field appears fragmented,
dispersed over many fields of science. It is, however, dominated by natural
and engineering sciences, while the social sciences are less visible.
2.4 Bioeconomy visions
Considering the many origins and the wide diffusion of the bioeconomy
concept across multiple scientific fields, the aim of this section is to examine
7.1
7.8
10.5
12.1
12.5
13.8
14.5
14.8
16.1
16.5
16.9
20.9
36.8
40.2
76.5
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Social Sciences, Biomedical
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Plant Sciences
Agricultural Engineering
Agronomy
Chemistry, Applied
Forestry
Engineering, Chemical
Food Science & Technology
Engineering, Environmental
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Environmental Sciences
Energy & Fuels
Biotechnology and
Applied Microbiology
Figure 2.2 Share of Web of Science categories, based on weighted counts (n = 453).