APPROACH TO THE CUBAN SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY BY USING PUBLICATION BASED QUANTITATIVE INDICATORS (1985-1989)

An estimation about Cuban scientific productivity based on output indi cators during the period 1985-1989 is provided. Nine international bib liographic databases and three Cuban repertories have been used. Excep t for journal articles, no other type of Cuban document gets worldwide recognition as they are not generally included in the international d atabases. The greater effort in research is made in Agriculture, Biome dicine, Chemistry and Engineering, but this last topic does not reach international visibility, since the majority of its results are publis hed in local journals. The Cuban contribution to the ''mainstream'' of world science is increasing annually. Collaboration in high level res earch projects existed mainly between Cuba and either USSR, German Dem ocratic Republic and Italy. The most productive Cuban institutions in collaborative programs are the Havana University and the Academy of Sc iences.