Open bibliographic databases: in search of an alternative to Scopus and the Web of Science

In the context of the recent developments in Russia, such as the termination of activities of several major scientific publishers and the blocking of access to two prominent bibliographic databases, Scopus and Web of Science, Russian scientists face a challenge in continuing their research and contributing to the scientific and educational community. This article aims to explore the potential of open bibliographic databases as a viable alternative to these two databases in addressing the main objectives of scientific and educational policies. The research methodology employed in this study involves a content analysis of relevant sources that examine science as a specialized field of human activity. Additionally, various aspects of utilizing bibliographic databases in decision-making processes related to scientific and educational policies and during actual research are considered. A comparative analysis is conducted on selected open databases to assess their suitability for different stages of scientific knowledge production. The study resulted in the characterization of several open access bibliographic databases: Russian Index of Scientific Citation (RISC), AMiner, The Lens, Dimensions, and OpenAlex. The criteria used for the analysis were: volume of content, period covered, availability of filters, data visualization tools, data upload capabilities, and additional features. Based on these criteria, it was proposed to form a subject area research program using these open bibliographic databases. It was concluded that these databases can fully replace Scopus and Web of Science in terms of solving the problem of defining the boundaries of world science and conducting scientific research. However, at the moment, there is no alternative to Scopus and Web of Science for evaluating scientific results. The study emphasizes the importance of using open bibliographic databases in scientific research and the need to develop them further. The results of the study can be useful for researchers, scientists, and policymakers who are interested in improving the quality and efficiency of scientific research in Russia