A bibliometric profile of Flemish research in natural, life and technical sciences

This paper presents an overview of recent R&D policy developments in Flande rs and Belgium. Special attention is paid to evaluation and monitoring, whi ch are seen as central elements of the Flemish Government's more dynamic sc ience and technology policy. The paper describes the process of setting up the necessary instruments to perform bibliometric studies and the applicati on of these instruments for drawing a profile of the natural, life and tech nical sciences research carried out in Flanders. Although the total publica tion output weighted by population or regional wealth, is still lower than that of other small, highly industrialised countries, the international vis ibility of this research is comparable, if not slightly higher.