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This study aims to analyze the alignment of research activities of Iran's highly cited scientists with national strategic priorities outlined in the Science and Technology Roadmap.

May 9, 2026Open Access

Mapping the Research Activity Alignment of Iran’s Top Two Percent Highly Cited Scientists with the Priorities in Iran’s Science and Technology Roadmap

SLSaeideh Mirhaghjoo LangeroudiRegional Information Center for Science and Technology FCFatemeh Alinezhad ChamazkotiRegional Information Center for Science and Technology

Key Points

This study aims to analyze the alignment of research activities of Iran's highly cited scientists with national strategic priorities outlined in the Science and Technology Roadmap.
Applied descriptive study using a scientometric approach.
Data collected from highly cited scientists indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases.
Statistical analyses performed using SPSS, including t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis.
78.6% of technology-related articles correspond with the roadmap’s strategic priorities.
Alignment with national priorities does not significantly impact researchers’ h-index or international collaborations.
Certain research areas remain underrepresented and need greater emphasis.

Abstract

This study examines the alignment between the research domains of Iran’s highly cited scientists and the priorities outlined in the Science and Technology Roadmap. Additionally, it examines patterns of scientific collaboration, the h-index, and the quality of scholarly journals across various impact levels within prioritized research areas. This applied descriptive study employs a scientometric approach to analyze the research output of Iran’s highly cited scientists indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Data collection was conducted using Microsoft Excel, and statistical analyses—including independent t-tests, chi-square tests, and regression analysis—were performed using SPSS software. Findings indicate a significant alignment between the research activities of highly cited Iranian scientists and the priority areas defined in the Science and Technology Roadmap. Specifically, 78.6% of technology-related articles correspond with the roadmap’s strategic priorities, reflecting researchers’ attention to national needs and key challenges. Despite this strong alignment across technological fields, certain research areas remain underrepresented and warrant greater emphasis. Furthermore, the study finds that alignment with national priorities does not have a significant impact on researchers’ h-index or international collaborations. Given that governments play a pivotal role in policymaking and shaping national strategic documents, ensuring that scientific capabilities are directed toward addressing national demands is essential. Aligning research activities with national priorities is crucial for enhancing a country’s scientific impact and fostering sustainable development. This study identifies gaps in research focus and evaluates the extent to which the scientific contributions of Iran’s top 2% of highly cited researchers align with national strategic objectives.

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