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• Other features of the Greek R&D system

Other features of the Greek R&D system

In comparison with other countries, Greece possesses high calibre scientific personnel in the field of research, both at home and abroad. Greece's geographical position and the existence of a large community of Greek scientists and academics in universities and research centres throughout Greece and the developed world are a potential source of considerable ongoing support for existing research centres and networks in Greece, monitoring high quality research. The overall performance of the Greek research system is considered to be highly satisfactory, when additional factors are taken into account.

Two factors which reflect the high productivity of the Greek academic system are the indicators of publications and citations, especially as a proportion of the total expenditure on R&D by higher education institutions. As shown in the table below, Greece is ahead of the (selected) countries in respect of the scientific publications, whereas, with regard to citations, Greece is more or less on a similar level with Ireland, Spain and France and ahead of Japan, Germany, Portugal and Turkey.

¹ On the basis of R&D expenditure in higher education institutions in 1997 at purchasing power equivalents
² Out of a total of 27 countries
³ On the basis of the number of citations per publication from the ISI National Science Indicators on Diskette.

Moreover, despite its small size, the Greek research system has a record of successful and growing participation in competitive EU programmes (Framework Programmes). Greece has 0.5% of the research personnel in Europe, but the percentage of the budget received by the Greek bodies for FP projects is between 1% and 8%. This demonstrates the high calibre of Greek research.