2021 Research Leaders: Leading institutions

The 2021 Research Leaders are based on Nature Index data from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Table criteria

Position Institution Share 2019 Share 2020 Count 2020 Change in Adjusted Share* 2019–2020
1 Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russia 197.30 236.21 935 15.4% Increase
2 Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), Russia 43.74 48.06 337 5.9% Increase
3 Saint Petersburg State University (SPbU), Russia 27.26 23.82 102 -15.7% Decrease
4 National Research Center Kurchatov Institute (NRCKI), Russia 23.65 23.37 263 -4.7% Decrease
5 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology - State University (MIPT), Russia 15.51 22.19 196 37.9% Increase
6 Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), Russia 14.40 22.09 98 47.9% Increase
7 ITMO National Research University (ITMO University), Russia 15.51 21.10 63 31.2% Increase
8 Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), Russia 15.36 16.35 210 2.6% Increase
9 Novosibirsk State University (NSU), Russia 14.48 14.58 188 -2.9% Decrease
10 Kazan Federal University (KFU), Russia 6.59 6.51 38 -4.8% Decrease
11 Ural Federal University (UrFU), Russia 10.09 6.45 36 -38.4% Decrease
12 National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), Russia 5.68 6.05 80 2.6% Increase
13 National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Moscow Engineering Physics Institute), Russia 5.25 5.56 162 2.0% Increase
14 Tomsk State University (TSU), Russia 6.09 5.42 123 -14.2% Decrease
15 Bauman Moscow State Technical University (BMSTU), Russia 1.06 5.26 10 378.8% Increase
16 Peoples Friendship University of Russia (PFUR), Russia 1.39 4.29 19 197.9% Increase
17 National University of Science and Technology (MISIS), Russia 6.85 4.06 70 -42.8% Decrease
18 Southern Federal University (SFedU), Russia 3.48 3.63 18 0.4% Increase
19 Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU), Russia 4.84 3.53 104 -29.6% Decrease
20 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU), Russia 2.19 3.26 65 43.7% Increase
21 Tomsk State University of Control Systems and Radioelectronics (TUSUR), Russia 2.89 2.98 12 -0.3% Decrease
22 Saratov State University (SGU), Russia 1.54 2.91 13 82.2% Increase
23 Russian Quantum Center (RQC), Russia 3.02 2.34 17 -25.4% Decrease
24 P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Russia 0.64 2.00 2 199.2% Increase
25 Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod (UNN), Russia 2.97 1.88 10 -38.9% Decrease
26 Samara State Technical University, Russia 0.30 1.86 7 496.2% Increase
27 I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (FMSMU), Russia 1.19 1.82 34 47.9% Increase
28 Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom), Russia 0.75 1.57 11 101.1% Increase
29 South Ural State University (SUSU), Russia 0.91 1.57 22 66.0% Increase
30 Kazan National Research Technological University (KNRTU), Russia 0.03 1.46 4 4,961.5% Increase
31 Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University (RNRMU), Russia 1.20 1.44 18 16.0% Increase
32 Siberian Federal University (SibFU), Russia 1.12 1.44 18 23.6% Increase
33 Samara National Research University, Russia 2.75 1.40 5 -50.9% Decrease
34 Moscow Technological University (MIREA), Russia 1.72 1.30 5 -26.9% Decrease
35 Tomsk State Pedagogical University (TSPU), Russia 2.40 1.28 9 -48.4% Decrease
36 Russia Ministry of Health, Russia 1.00 0.95 9 -8.1% Decrease
37 Dubna State University, Russia 0.00 0.89 6 0.0% Increase
38 Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Russia 1.44 0.87 9 -41.7% Decrease
39 Molecular Electronics Research Institute (MERI), Russia 0.00 0.82 2 0.0% Increase
40 D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, Russia 0.93 0.80 8 -17.1% Decrease
41 Moscow State Pedagogical University (MSPU), Russia 0.38 0.76 4 96.0% Increase
42 All-Russia Scientific Research Institute of Metrological Service (VNIIMS), Russia 0.25 0.69 3 167.8% Increase
43 Russian Scientific Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedicsnamed after R.R. Vreden (РНИИТО), Russia 0.00 0.69 2 0.0% Increase
44 Far Eastern State Transport University (FESTU), Russia 0.35 0.60 10 66.6% Increase
45 Ivanovo State University of Chemistry and Technology (ISUCT), Russia 0.98 0.60 1 -40.7% Decrease
46 Saint-Petersburg Electrotechnical University (LETI), Russia 0.77 0.60 7 -24.9% Decrease
47 Bashkir State University (BashSU), Russia 0.01 0.59 4 9,206.0% Increase
48 Bashkir State Pedagogical University (BSPU), Russia 1.46 0.58 1 -61.4% Decrease
49 Irkutsk State University (ISU), Russia 0.84 0.56 3 -35.7% Decrease
50 Novosibirsk State Technical University (NSTU), Russia 0.81 0.52 15 -37.7% Decrease
51 Ulyanovsk State University (USU), Russia 0.00 0.50 1 0.0% Increase
51 Pacific National University (PNU), Russia 0.00 0.50 1 0.0% Increase
52 Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia, Russia 0.07 0.49 3 558.8% Increase
53 All-Russia Electrotechnical Institute (FGUP VEI), Russia 0.00 0.44 1 0.0% Increase
54 Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University (IKBFU), Russia 1.62 0.41 5 -75.6% Decrease
55 3D Bioprinting Solutions, Russia 0.00 0.40 1 0.0% Increase
56 Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Russia 1.00 0.38 2 -63.4% Decrease
57 Gazprom, Russia 0.00 0.38 1 0.0% Increase
57 Dagestan State University (DSU), Russia 0.00 0.38 1 10,349.0% Increase
58 Science and Technique Laboratory Zaryad, Russia 0.00 0.37 2 0.0% Increase
59 Volgograd State University (VolSU), Russia 0.00 0.36 2 0.0% Increase
60 Baikal Seal Aquarium, Russia 0.00 0.33 1 0.0% Increase
61 Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (CFUV), Russia 0.00 0.31 2 0.0% Increase
62 Russian Federal Nuclear Center - All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Experimental Physics (RFNC-VNIIEF), Russia 0.14 0.30 23 112.9% Increase
63 Federal Budget Institution of Science "Central Research Institute of Epidemiology" (CRIE), Russia 0.29 0.29 1 -3.6% Decrease
63 Nizhny Novgorod State Technical University n.a. R.E. Alekseev (NNSTU), Russia 0.08 0.29 1 230.6% Increase
64 Technical Institute for Superhard and Novel Carbon Materials (FSBI TISNCM), Russia 0.07 0.27 2 259.9% Increase
65 ANO Laboratory of Prehistory, Russia 0.00 0.26 2 0.0% Increase
66 Yandex School of Data Analysis, Russia 0.30 0.26 36 -16.7% Decrease
67 Planta LLC, Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
68 Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University, Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
68 Saint Petersburg State Chemical Pharmaceutical Academy (SPCPA), Russia 0.10 0.25 1 141.0% Increase
68 CSort Ltd., Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
68 Research Institute for the Development of Scientific and Educational Potential of Youth, Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
68 Gero LLC, Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
68 Saint-Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation (SUAI), Russia 0.00 0.25 1 0.0% Increase
69 S.I. Vavilov State Optical Institute, Russia 0.28 0.22 1 -22.9% Decrease
70 Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Russia 0.08 0.21 1 152.9% Increase
71 Vladimir State University named after Alexander and Nikolay Stoletovs, Russia 0.16 0.20 1 23.5% Increase
72 North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk (NEFU), Russia 0.21 0.20 4 -5.5% Decrease
73 Moscow State University Seismic Data Analysis Center LLC, Russia 0.00 0.19 1 0.0% Increase
74 Penza State University, Russia 0.03 0.18 1 519.2% Increase
74 Kuban State University (KubSU), Russia 0.00 0.18 1 0.0% Increase
75 Research and Practical Clinical Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine Technologies of the Moscow Health Care Department, Russia 0.00 0.17 2 0.0% Increase
76 Chelyabinsk State University (CSU), Russia 0.01 0.17 1 1,780.1% Increase
76 Astrakhan State Technical University (ASTU), Russia 0.00 0.17 1 0.0% Increase
77 Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet), Russia 0.43 0.16 4 -62.8% Decrease
78 Federal Center of Treatment and Rehabilitation, Russia 0.10 0.15 1 44.6% Increase
79 Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU), Russia 0.00 0.13 2 0.0% Increase
80 International Science and Technology Center (ISTC), Russia 0.22 0.13 1 -40.8% Decrease
80 South Russian Regional Centre for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects, Limited (CPPI - S Ltd.), Russia 0.00 0.13 1 0.0% Increase
81 North-Caucasus Federal University (NCFU), Russia 0.00 0.13 1 0.0% Increase
82 N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, Russia 0.05 0.11 2 130.0% Increase
83 Speleoclub Arabica, Russia 0.00 0.11 1 0.0% Increase
84 National Medical Research Radiological Center (NMRRC), Russia 0.00 0.11 2 0.0% Increase
85 Russian State Geological Prospecting University (MGRI-RSGPU), Russia 0.06 0.10 1 54.3% Increase
85 Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy, Russia 0.00 0.10 1 0.0% Increase
86 Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC), Russia 0.05 0.09 2 76.8% Increase
87 Ceramics Co. Ltd., Russia 0.09 0.09 1 -3.6% Decrease
87 All-Russian Center of Emergency and Radiation Medicine named after A.M. Nikiforov (ARCERM), Russia 0.00 0.09 1 0.0% Increase
88 Sirius University of Science and Technology, Russia 0.00 0.09 8 0.0% Increase
89 Blagoveschensk State Pedagogical University (BSPU), Russia 0.00 0.09 1 0.0% Increase
89 Ice Age Museum, Russia 0.02 0.09 2 255.4% Increase
90 GrapheneTek LLC, Russia 0.00 0.08 3 0.0% Increase
90 Syktyvkar State University, Russia 0.29 0.08 1 -71.9% Decrease
90 Togliatti State University, Russia 0.00 0.08 1 0.0% Increase
91 Research Centre for Medical Genetics (RCMG), Russia 0.05 0.08 2 55.4% Increase
92 Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, Russia 0.06 0.08 5 39.6% Increase
93 Federal Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology - Dmitry Rogachev, Russia 0.26 0.08 11 -70.1% Decrease
94 Aivok LLC, Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
95 Kemerovo State University (KemSU), Russia 0.01 0.07 2 706.8% Increase
96 SuperOx, Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
96 Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU), Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
96 Moscow State Institute of Radio-engineering, Electronics and Automation, Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
96 Nobel Ltd., Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
96 Rostov-on-Don Research Institute for Plague Control, Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
97 Northeast Science Station of Cherskii, Russia 0.01 0.07 1 864.1% Increase
97 Association Maritime Heritage: Explore & Sustain (AMH), Russia 0.00 0.07 1 0.0% Increase
98 Meteorological Synthesizing Centre-East (MSC-E), Russia 0.00 0.06 1 0.0% Increase
99 State Scientific-Research Institute of Physiology and Basic Medicine (PhBMRI), Russia 0.04 0.06 2 38.2% Increase
100 Pskov State University, Russia 0.00 0.06 1 0.0% Increase
100 Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI), Russia 0.11 0.06 1 -50.4% Decrease
100 Buryat State University (BSU), Russia 0.00 0.06 1 0.0% Increase
101 Land of the Leopard National Park, Russia 0.00 0.05 2 0.0% Increase
102 State Nature Reserve Stolby, Russia 0.00 0.05 2 0.0% Increase
103 Bioinformatics Institute, Russia 0.00 0.05 1 0.0% Increase
103 Plekhanov Russian University of Economics (PRUE), Russia 0.09 0.05 1 -52.2% Decrease
104 Altai Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
105 Euromedservice, Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
106 Central Research Institute for Machine Building (TsNIIMash), Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
106 Tyumen Industrial University (TYUIU), Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
106 Imtek Ltd., Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
106 Novosibirsk State University of Architecture, Design and Arts (NSUADI), Russia 0.00 0.04 1 0.0% Increase
107 Saratov State Medical University named after V. I. Razumovsky, Russia 0.00 0.03 1 0.0% Increase
108 Russia Ministry of Agriculture, Russia 0.00 0.03 1 0.0% Increase
109 Dubna International University of Nature, Society and Man, Russia 0.17 0.03 1 -81.9% Decrease
110 East Siberian Academy of Culture and Arts (VSGIK), Russia 0.00 0.03 1 0.0% Increase
111 Kivach State Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.03 1 0.0% Increase
111 Pechoro-Ilych State Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.03 1 0.0% Increase
112 JetBrains Research, Russia 0.00 0.03 2 0.0% Increase
113 Taimyrsky Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Natural park «Kondinskie lakes» named after L.F. Stashkevich, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Darwin Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Ural State Pedagogical University (USPU), Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Baikalsky State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Sikhote-Alin State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Named after K. G. Abramov, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
113 Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
114 N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
115 Pinega Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
115 Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
115 FGBU Zapovednoye Priamurye, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
116 JSC D.V. Efremov Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus (NIIEFA), Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
117 Primorskaya State Academy of Agriculture, Russia 0.00 0.02 1 0.0% Increase
118 FSBI "National Medical Research Center of Endocrinology", Russia 0.00 0.02 3 0.0% Increase
119 Volzhsko-Kamsky National Nature Biosphere Rezerve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 Nizhny Novogorod Regional Clinical Hospital, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 FSBI Zeya State Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 FSBI United Administration of the Lazovsky State Reserve and National Park Zov Tigra, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 Kostomuksha Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 Kenozersky National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 Meshchyora National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
119 State Nature Reserve Olekminsky, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
120 Federal State Enterprise Zapovednoe Podlemorye, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
120 Tunguska Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
121 Federal Center for Cerebrovascular Pathology and Stroke, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
122 Amur Tiger Center, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
122 Scientific Сentre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
122 Zov Tigra National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
123 Veterinary Clinic Vetmaster, Russia 0.01 0.01 1 -13.3% Decrease
123 Veterinary Clinic Canine Heart, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
123 Veterinary Clinic Biocontrol, Russia 0.01 0.01 1 -13.3% Decrease
124 Polistovsky Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Malaya Sosva State Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 State Nature Reserve Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Shushensky Bor National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Vodlozersky National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Bashkiriya National Park, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Kronotsky Federal Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 National Park Ugra, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Voronezhsky Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Nurgush Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 FSBI Prioksko-Terrasniy State Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
124 Visimsky Nature Biosphere Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
125 Bashkir State Medical University, Russia 0.00 0.01 1 0.0% Increase
126 Mari Chodra National Park, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Pasvik Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Zapovednoe Pribajkalje (Bajkalo-Lensky State Nature Reserve, Pribajkalsky National Park), Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 FGBU GPZ Kologrivskij Les name after M.G. Sinicin, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 University of Tyumen (UT), Russia 1.05 0.00 1 -99.5% Decrease
126 Caucasian State Biosphere Reserve of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Astrakhan Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 State Nature Reserve Bolshaya Kokshaga, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Khvalynsky National Park, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Kuznetsk Alatau Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Tigirekskiy Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 The Central Chernozem State Biosphere Nature Reserve named after Professor V.V. Alyokhin, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Kabardino-Balkarski Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Vishera Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 State Nature Reserve Prisursky, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 National Park Orlovskoe Polesie, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Kerzhenets Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Nizhne-Svirsky State Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Zhiguli Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
126 Kurils Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
127 Krasnoyarsk State Pedagogical University named after V. P. Astafyev, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
127 Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
127 Information-Analytical Centre for Protected Areas, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
127 Altai State University (ASU), Russia 0.20 0.00 1 -98.8% Decrease
127 Saint Petersburg State Forest Technical University (SPBFTU), Russia 0.00 0.00 1 0.0% Increase
128 Ufa Eye Research Institute, Russia 0.00 0.00 1 25.4% Increase

Footnote

Each year, the Nature Index publishes tables based on counts of high-quality research outputs in the previous calendar year. Users please note:

  1. The data behind the tables are based on a relatively small proportion of total research papers, they cover the natural sciences and health sciences only and outputs are non-normalized (that is, they don’t reflect the size of the country or institution, or its overall research output).
  2. The Nature Index is one indicator of institutional research performance. The metrics of Count and Share used to order Nature Index listings are based on an institution’s or country’s publication output in 145 natural-science and health-science journals. The journals were selected on reputation by an independent panel of leading scientists in their fields. The list is reviewed periodically and journals may be removed or added. Articles from eLife were no longer included in the Nature Index from 2023 after the journal changed its publishing model.
  3. Nature Index recognizes that many other factors must be taken into account when considering research quality and institutional performance; Nature Index metrics alone should not be used to assess institutions or individuals.
  4. Nature Index data and methods are transparent and available under a creative commons licence at nature.com/nature-index/.
  5. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

The Nature Index database undergoes regular updating, corrections, adjustment of institutional hierarchies, and removal of retracted papers and thus the live website can differ from the frozen research leaders.