South Korea’s prime universities slipped in the Nature Index, a global rating that tracks research printed in main science journals, as Chinese establishments tightened their grip on the listing.
The newest index, compiled by tutorial writer Springer Nature, positioned Seoul National University 59th worldwide and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology 84th amongst research establishments. In the earlier tables launched in June final yr, the 2 colleges ranked 52nd and 82nd, respectively.
Other Korean universities showing in the global listing included Yonsei University at 144th, Sungkyunkwan University at 159th, and Pohang University of Science and Technology at 166th.
The Nature Index measures research output by monitoring articles printed in 145 main pure science and well being science journals, together with titles such as Nature and different extremely selective publications. It ranks establishments and international locations primarily based on how usually their researchers contribute to those journals and the share of authorship attributed to them.
The newest tables analyzed papers printed between Dec. 1, 2024, and Nov. 30, 2025, providing a snapshot of global research exercise throughout chemistry, bodily sciences, life sciences, earth and environmental sciences, and well being sciences.
Chinese establishments once more dominated the rankings. The Chinese Academy of Sciences held the highest global place, adopted by Harvard University. Aside from Harvard, the remainder of the highest 10 establishments have been all Chinese research organizations or universities.
Germany’s Max Planck Society, which had ranked ninth in the earlier launch, slipped to eleventh.
By nation, the hierarchy remained unchanged. China ranked first, adopted by the United States, with Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and France filling the following 4 spots. South Korea positioned seventh worldwide.
Korea carried out strongest in bodily sciences, the place it ranked fourth globally, and seventh in chemistry. In earth and environmental sciences and life sciences, the nation positioned twelfth.
The outcomes mirror the speedy enlargement of Chinese research output over the previous decade. China first overtook the United States in 2023 to develop into the biggest contributor to papers in the Nature Index, a place it has maintained since.
Within the rankings, the Chinese Academy of Sciences led the world in chemistry, bodily sciences, and earth and environmental sciences, whereas rating second in life sciences. Its standing in well being sciences, nonetheless, was a lot decrease at forty first, indicating a extra uneven efficiency throughout disciplines.