Science and Engineering Knowledge Production in ASEAN

This study offers an analysis of the rapidly increasing volume of science and engineering knowledge production among ASEAN member states. It explores the extent to which regional economic integration has influenced research profiles (areas of specialization) and international research collaboration. The study utilizes an open -source dataset of nationally aggregated scientometric indicators extracted from the Scopus database. Revealed comparative advantage and scientific co -authorship methodologies are applied to analyse changes in research profiles and international research collaboration. The concept of revealed comparative advantage has not previously been applied to ASEAN research output. The findings show that ASEAN countries have increased their research profile in manufacturing -linked technologies and have become less regional and more global in their scientific collaborations. Malaysia, Vietnam and especially Singapore have increased their average research quality, while Indonesia has seen a notable decline in research quality amid a large quantitative increase in research output. The research profiles and collaboration networks of ASEAN members are diverging, which runs counter to the converging trend observed in the European Union. The international research collaborations of ASEAN member states increasingly take place outside of the ASEAN region itself and with other countries in Asia.