In order to eliminate these deficits and to keep up with the international developments, the iFQ, the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI), the Institute for Science and Technology Research (IWT) at the University of Bielefeld and the Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe (FIZ) have – funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) – combined their competencies in the "German Competence Centre for Bibliometrics".

The objective of this collaboration is the construction of an in-house database on the basis of the literature databases “Scopus” (Elsevier) and “Web of Science” (Thomson Reuters). To this end, quality control, contortion callipers and advanced indicators will be developed. Corrections, extensions and linkage to other datasets arising from the studies, projects and applications by the members of the consortium will gradually complement the data stock. Furthermore, a validation and examination of the informational value of the indicators currently used as well as those newly developed is foreseen. Subsequently, the quality standards, advanced indicators, unified author names and addresses will be implemented. A scientific advisory board has been established and will render an expert opinion on all projects and work packages.

The developed data and competencies will contribute to the studies, projects and assignments of the consortium members. In particular, routine reportings are expected to improve or, respectively, to be newly facilitated. Analysis of co-operations, impact and performance of funding programmes as well as identification of excellence and studies on gender issues will be facilitated or, accordingly, enabled.

Last but not least, the objectives comprise further development of competencies in consultancy and the promotion of young researchers so to preserve the gained competencies. In particular, young researchers’ dissertations in related fields shall be promoted.

Contact persons: Haiko Lietz , Markus von Ins