Research Funding in the Middle East and North Africa: Analyses of Acknowledgments in Scientific Publications

Abstract: This study uses a mixed-methods approach to analyze the funding acknowledgments found in 2.3 million scientific publications published between 2008 and 2021 by authors affiliated with research institutions located in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries. The aim is to identify the major funders and their contribution to national scientific publications but also to better understand the funding mechanism in relation to collaboration and publication. Publication data from the Web of Science is examined to provide key insights about funding activities. Saudi Arabia and Qatar lead the region with about half of their publications of funding sources but also because most countries in MENA show strong linkages with foreign agencies which are mainly due to a high level of international collaborations. The distinction between domestic and international publications reveals some differences in terms of funding structures. For instance, Turkey and Iran are dominated by one or two major funders whereas Saudi Arabia is an example of countries with multiple funders. Iran and Kuwait are examples of countries where research is mainly funded by domestic agencies. The government and academic sectors mainly fund scientific research in MENA whereas the industry sector plays little or no role in terms of research funding. Lastly, the qualitative analyses provide more context into the complex funding mechanism. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the funding structure in MENA countries and provide insights to funders and research managers to evaluate the funding landscape.