Publishing Behaviour in Health Crises: Temporal Trends in Scientific Production by Universities, Hospitals, and Industry

Health crises declared as Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) by the World Health Organization (WHO) have generated unprecedented volumes of scientific output and prompted new forms of collaboration among universities, hospitals, and industry. However, the evolution of these collaborations over time, and the motivations driving researchers to engage with external organisations during such emergencies, remain insufficiently explored. This study addresses these gaps through a mixed-methods approach combining systematic literature review, statistical analysis of a bibliometric dataset of over 258,000 publications (2000–2023), and secondary analysis of survey data collected in 2018 and 2022.Current research advances indicate that while publication volume increases sharply following the outbreak of a crisis, inter-institutional collaboration tends to be reactive and short-lived. The literature review reveals fragmented approaches to studying publishing behaviour in health emergencies, and the survey analysis is expected to provide further insight into the role of individual motivations in shaping collaborative decisions. The study offers empirical and conceptual contributions that may inform science policy and enhance our understanding of how knowledge production and cooperation unfold during public health emergencies.