While Australia's Minister for Research Obsesses Over the ERA, in the US "Quality Attracts Quality in Academic Research". (November 19, 2010)

Thomson Reuters of research papers' citations fame has made available a new analysis of US publications' numbers and their "citation output" over the period 1981-1985 vs 2005-2009. It is in fact the latest in a series of such assessments of individual countries.

In summary,  24 US universities contributed 42% of the nation's publications for the years 2005 to 2009 compared to 31% for the period 1981–85, and the 61 U.S. members of the Association of American Universities (AAU) garnered a 56% share, an 8% increase from 1981-85.

Regarding citations, 19 universities received 47% of all citations to U.S. papers for 2005 to 2009.

Jonathan Adams, co-author of the new report says: “In the United States you see a concentration by field, as well as by geography. I'm not saying it's a problem." And this without an RAE, ERA, or RQF.

However, as Science's Jeffrey Mervis notes the: "report ends with this provocative question: Are the economic challenges facing the United States 'best answered by such concentration, or does its response to the challenge of agile knowledge economies elsewhere in the world require an equally innovative response supported by a more pervasive network of U.S. institutions that draw on the talent spread across the 50 states?'"

So from an Australian viewpoint will Excellence for Research in Australia, compacts and hubs and spokes significantly enhance, diminish or just be costly absurdities in regard to the nation's quality of research, development and innovation?

SOURCE: GLOBAL RESEARCH REPORT, USA © 2010 THOMSON REUTERS