Establishing a framework to assess the contribution of regional research topics to sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Abstract This study proposes a novel scientometric framework to assess the regional research contributions towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), using the Region of Murcia, Spain, as a case study. By leveraging bibliometric and social network analysis, the framework aims to enrich university and regional policy-making with data-driven insights. The methodology identifies and maps micro-research topics to SDGs, showcasing how regional scientific output aligns with global sustainability objectives. The findings reveal Murcia’s unique research emphases and contributions, particularly in Biomedical and Health Sciences and Life and Earth Sciences, differing significantly from broader European trends. This approach not only highlights the region’s research strengths and areas of specialization but also underscores the potential of targeted scientometric analysis in guiding science, technology, and innovation policies towards achieving SDGs.