Mapping the Maldives Research Ecosystem: Publication Output, Collaboration, and Research Gaps
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55712/n8wz3h14Keywords:
Maldives, Small Island Developing States, Research Ecosystem, Local Leadership, Sustainable Development Goals, Open Science, Research PolicyAbstract
Small island states need research systems that generate visible, accessible, and locally led rigorous research evidence for policy action. However, national research capacity is often assessed through publication counts alone, which can obscure who leads research, which institutions participate, and where evidence gaps remain. This study mapped Maldives-specific research output from 2000 to 2025 as a national research ecosystem. A bibliometric and policy-alignment design was used, combining OpenAlex retrieval, Crossref validation, local-source supplementation, duplicate resolution, and validated authorship classification. Records were classified by Maldives affiliation, Maldives focus, local participation, local leadership, external authorship, international co-production, thematic field, open-access status, and United Nations’Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alignment. The final analytical sample contained 2,645 validated records. Output expanded sharply in recent years, with 55.7% of records published from 2021 to 2025. The evidence base was concentrated on climate and environment, with 897 records, health, and wellbeing, with 780 records, and fisheries and ocean research, with 350 records, while governance, infrastructure, culture, inequality, water and sanitation, and digital systems were less visible. Among 1,583 Maldives-focused records, only 598 included a Maldives-based author, giving a local participation rate of 37.8%. Only 319 Maldives-focused records were locally led, giving a local leadership rate of 20.2%, while 985 records had no validated local authorship, giving a share of 62.2%. Among Maldives-affiliated records, 74.3% involved international co-production. SDG tagging showed strong visibility for Life Below Water, Good Health and Well-being, Quality Education, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and Climate Action, but weaker visibility for several implementation-relevant SDGs. The findings show that Maldives-related research output has grown rapidly, but visibility has not translated into proportional local research leadership. Strengthening the Maldives research ecosystem will require locally led research, equitable collaboration, stronger local journals, better metadata, open evidence, and targeted support for underrepresented policy areas.
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