(Vienna, 08-05-2026) The new Elsevier country report “Austria as a science and technology nation” confirms Austria’s strong international standing as a science and technology nation. With around 0.8 per cent of global scientific output and a citation impact 54 per cent above the global average, Austria enjoys above-average international visibility. The Medical University of Vienna and Austria’s medical universities play a key role in this, combining high publication output with a strong citation impact, according to the report.
The country report is part of Elsevier’s “Science Nation” series and analyses research and innovation systems in an international comparison. It is based on bibliometric data from sources including Scopus and SciVal. The report evaluates publication output, citation impact, international cooperation, collaboration with industry, patent-related metrics, policy citations, and strategic research fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, biotechnology and critical materials.
For Austria, the report describes a scientific system based on the division of labour: comprehensive universities ensure breadth and scientific diversity, technical universities and applied research institutions are particularly strong at the interface with industry and innovation, whilst medical universities shape highly effective health research.
Medical research as a key impact factor
The importance of medicine is particularly evident in the ‘Clinical & Health’ research field. According to the report, it is both the largest and most highly cited research field in Austria. With an FWCI of 1.93, it contributes significantly to the above-average overall impact of the Austrian research system.
This strength is also evident at the institutional level: MedUni Vienna, together with the University of Vienna, forms the core of Austria’s publication output. According to the report, several medical universities are also among those institutions that perform particularly well in terms of field-weighted citation impact. The report attributes this in particular to clinical, medical and life sciences research areas with strong international networks.
MedUni Vienna a leader in biotechnology
MedUni Vienna occupies a particularly prominent position in the field of biotechnology. According to the report, with 500 publications and an FWCI of 2.47, it is Austria’s most prolific institution in this strategically important field of research. The report describes biotechnology as a significant part of the Austrian life sciences landscape, underpinned by medical and biological research.
The report thus demonstrates that MedUni Vienna not only makes a significant contribution to Austria’s publication output but also plays a leading role in a key area of international relevance.
Research with societal impact
The report also highlights that Austrian research has an impact beyond the scientific community: 8.9 per cent of Austrian research is cited in policy documents. This puts ‘ ’ in Austria above the EU and global averages. This is particularly relevant for medical universities, as health research forms an important basis for evidence-based decisions in the healthcare sector.
About the report
“Austria as a science and technology nation” is part of Elsevier’s “Science Nation” series. The analysis was compiled in February 2026 and is based – with the exception of the section on spin-offs and start-ups – on quantitative indicators from Elsevier platforms such as Scopus and SciVal. https://www.elsevier.com/academic-and-research-leader/science-nation