Focus and Scope

Studies in Science of Science is an interdisciplinary journal that examines how science, technology, and innovation shape – and are shaped by – economic development, business strategy, and management practice. Organized into four columns, the journal welcomes contributions that range from policy-focused analyses and theoretical–methodological advances to practice-based empirical studies and forward-looking perspectives on global science and technology frontiers.

I. Hot Issues

Focus: Major national policies and widely debated events in science, technology, and innovation (STI) and their economic–managerial implications.

  1. National STI policy and governance
    • Major national strategies and reforms in science and technology
    • Policy instruments for innovation-driven development
    • Regulatory frameworks affecting R&D, data, and digital technologies
  2. Economic and industrial impact of STI policies
    • Industrial upgrading and restructuring
    • Green and digital transformation of key sectors
    • Impact on productivity, competitiveness, and employment
  3. Public debates and societal challenges
    • Ethical, social, and risk issues of emerging technologies
    • Public acceptance, trust, and governance of AI, big data, etc.
    • Science communication and public engagement
  4. Policy recommendations and evaluation
    • Evidence-based evaluation of STI and industrial policies
    • Comparative policy analysis (international and regional)
    • Design of inclusive and sustainable innovation policies

II. Theory and Methods

Focus: Theoretical and methodological advances for studying science, technology, innovation, and related economic–business phenomena.

  1. Theories of science, technology, and innovation
    • Science-of-science, innovation systems, and knowledge production
    • Theories of technological change, diffusion, and convergence
    • Innovation capability, absorptive capacity, and learning
  2. Integration with economics and management
    • Innovation and growth theories; industrial organization of innovation
    • Strategic management of technology and innovation
    • Business models, entrepreneurship, and digital platform economics
  3. Methodological innovation
    • Quantitative methods: bibliometrics, econometrics, network analysis
    • Qualitative and mixed methods in innovation and policy research
    • Big data, AI, and computational approaches for STI and business studies
  4. Evaluation and measurement frameworks
    • Indicators for STI performance, productivity, and competitiveness
    • Measurement of R&D, human capital, and intangible assets
    • Metrics for innovation policy, regional development, and firm outcomes

III. Innovation Exploration

Focus: Practice-based, empirical studies of STI in firms, industries, regions, and innovation ecosystems.

  1. Firm-level innovation practices
    • R&D management and technology strategy
    • Digital transformation and Industry 4.0 applications
    • Intellectual property, standardization, and technology sourcing
  2. Entrepreneurship and new venture creation
    • Startup ecosystems and innovation-driven entrepreneurship
    • University–industry collaboration and spin-offs
    • Financing innovation: venture capital, corporate VC, and public schemes
  3. Innovation in business models and organizations
    • Open innovation, co-creation, and platform-based business models
    • Organizational design, leadership, and innovation culture
    • Human resource management for creativity and knowledge work
  4. Regional and sectoral innovation practices
    • Industrial clusters, science parks, and innovation districts
    • Sector-specific innovation (manufacturing, services, digital, green tech)
    • Case studies from emerging and developed economies

IV. Frontiers and Perspectives

Focus: Global trends and frontiers in science and technology and their strategic, economic, and business implications.

  1. Global STI trends and technological frontiers
    • AI, big data, biotechnology, advanced materials, and new energy
    • Convergence of digital, physical, and biological technologies
    • Global innovation races and collaboration patterns
  2. Impact on economic structures and business ecosystems
    • Transformation of global value chains and production networks
    • Platformization, servitization, and ecosystem competition
    • New industrial paradigms (e.g., green economy, circular economy)
  3. Strategies and policies for future STI development
    • National and regional innovation strategies
    • Science, technology, and industrial policy for resilience and security
    • International cooperation, competition, and governance
  4. Forward-looking views, critique, and debate
    • Normative and critical perspectives on STI and economic development
    • Risks, uncertainties, and unintended consequences of new technologies
    • Visionary scenarios, strategic foresight, and policy roadmaps