Nature Index 25 November 2022

Science cities 2022

This Index looks at the policy, politics and science behind the world’s leading cities for output of high quality research. China fares well; Beijing continues to lead the pack and Shanghai is in 3rd place. The United States, however, managed to keep hold of the other three spots in the top five, buoyed by a strong performance in the life sciences, thanks to the development of COVID-19 vaccines in the greater Boston area.

Read in Chinese (PDF)

This Nature Index is editorially independent, produced with financial support from a third party. About this content.

Features and comment

Specialized cities

Breakthroughs in the life sciences have boosted US output of high-quality science, but advances in the physical sciences have done the same for China.
- Simon Baker
Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
Leading science cities by the numbers

How the top five performers weigh up on population, research and the cost of living.

Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
The driving forces behind the success of Beijing and Shanghai

China’s capital city still has a higher research output, but its innovating second city is catching up.
- Yvaine Ye
Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
How well connected are the world’s leading science cities?

When it comes to scientific collaborations, China’s cities are much less interconnected than those in the United States.

Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
Melbourne’s science output will take time to recover from the pandemic

Stringent COVID-19 measures have damaged the talent pipeline for Australia’s leading science city.
- Daniel Pejic
Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
Strength in the life sciences sustains US advantage

Generous funding, desirable locations, COVID-19 vaccine development and established intercity links are helping three cities to stand out.
- Neil Savage
Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature
A guide to the Nature Index

A description of the terminology and methodology used in this supplement, and a guide to the functionality that is available free online at natureindex.com.

Nature Index25 Nov 2022 Nature