June 8, 2019
The Weizmann Institute of Science has been ranked among the top 25 research institutes/universities in the world in two main categories by U-Multirank, 2019. This organization named the Institute a Global Top 25 performer in two areas: Top Cited Publications and Patents Awarded.
This ranking, an initiative of the European Commission since 2014, uses all of the information available about hundreds of institutes worldwide, and analyses it according to numerous variables to show which of them leads in five main categories. Each category is assessed independently, according to parameters unique to that category, and they are weighted so as to add a qualitative – rather than just quantitative – dimension to the ranking. The ranking is intended to promote transparency and to aid students in applying to universities for studies and research.
The Weizmann Institute of Science places in the top 25 in two of those categories; within the category of patents, the Institute is outstanding not only for the share of patents registered to Institute scientists, but for the ratio of Institute publications, in proportion to their numbers, cited in patents by others around the world.
It has long been a leader in the global impact of its scientific research; the number of top cited publications are evidence of that impact. Institute researchers are more likely to have their research published in top journals, and that research is more often read and frequently used – and cited — by others.
Even more outstanding is the fact that as a basic research institute, the Weizmann Institute of Science does not demand of its scientists that any of their research be market, clinically or industrially oriented; yet with the help of Yeda Research and Development Co, Ltd, the Institute’s technology transfer arm, scientists who do come up with discoveries that may help treat cancer, create greener chemistry or design new nanotech devices have had a large degree of success in patenting these findings. The end result is improvement in the quality of life for millions of people around the world.
Professor Daniel Zajfman, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science said: “This ranking shows that our striving for excellence – our basic drive to conduct curiosity-based research and investigate the workings of nature — is paying off. Not only are we among the best in the world in our scientific impact, but our approach to research has reaped impressive results in bringing the fruits of science to benefit humanity.”
