Scientific alignment and collaboration mismatch in emerging water technologies: The case of Atmospheric Water Harvesting in North-Africa

Water is a structural challenge for sustainable development, particularly in semi-arid regions like North Africa. Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is therefore a promising solution, but its scientific and technological development varies considerably between countries. This study examines the scientific integration of four North African countries (Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia) within the global AWH scientific landscape. Adopting a core-periphery perspective, the analysis incorporates three complementary dimensions: thematic focus, disciplinary proximity to advanced countries, and collaboration with these leaders in the field. Using bibliometric data from the Web of Science (2015-2025), the study defines the AWH Core-Field around 31 themes and 12 leading countries that describe the research trend in this area. The results reveal heterogeneous alignment patterns: While Egypt and Morocco demonstrate a relatively strong commitment to core topics, their collaboration strategies do not perfectly reflect their disciplinary identity. Algeria and Tunisia exhibit more restrictive configurations, characterized by a greater dependence on a limited number of intermediary partners or weak integration into the core field of the AWH domain. Overall, the results highlight structural mismatches between disciplinary specialization and collaborative behaviors. The study suggests that strengthening strategic alignment -in addition to increasing publications- could be a powerful lever for improving the integration of North African countries into emerging and strategic scientific fields for sustainable development, such as AWH.