Research Intelligence: An emerging concept

Abstract With the growing availability of research information, analytical tools, and services, more and more dimensions of academic work can be studied to derive novel insights. Research Intelligence (RI) focuses on the collection, analysis, enrichment, and interpretation of research-related information to provide strategic insights that support decision-making at various organizational levels. It leverages tools like bibliographic databases, university research systems, and qualitative data from surveys and interviews, while incorporating information on funding, human resources, and societal knowledge transfer. In this paper we describe a brief history of Research Intelligence, its information sources and applications; discuss the role of the Research Intelligence expert and external developments; make recommendations for the responsible use of Research Intelligence; and look at future prospects, such as the role of AI. We argue that the study of Research Intelligence as a form of applied bibliometrics within its social constructs and contexts can be positioned as a (new) scholarly subdiscipline in the science studies domain, connecting to science, technology, and society studies, to evaluation and valuation studies, and also to scientometrics, computer science, and data science.