What Science-Metrix does

Science-Metrix is a Montreal-based research evaluation firm founded in 2002 by Éric Archambault, specializing in bibliometric analysis and the assessment of science, technology, research, and innovation activities. The firm provides analytical services, including bibliometrics, tailored study design, and indicator and tool development, to government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and private-sector research entities. Since its acquisition by Elsevier in December 2018, Science-Metrix has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global information analytics firm (part of RELX Group), retaining direct access to the Scopus database and other Elsevier data resources while serving clients across North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

The firm's core technology stack is built around bibliometric analysis using Scopus, Web of Science, and PATSTAT patent databases, anchored by the proprietary Science-Metrix Journal Classification System (5 domains, 20 fields, 174 subfields, available in 26 languages under a Creative Commons license). AI and NLP techniques are used for article-level classification based on titles, abstracts, keywords, author affiliations, and references, and a hybrid classification approach applies article-level methods to large multidisciplinary journals. Specialized proprietary tools include the Scopus Author Identifier Reliability Algorithm, a novel Tree Algorithm for analyzing gender homophily in research mentorship networks, and the Thematic Article Set Builder, which uses TF-IDF and NLP to construct and evaluate keyword-driven research article sets.

Commercially, Science-Metrix generates revenue through project-based professional services contracts delivered to institutional clients. The firm does not sell packaged software or self-serve products; each engagement is a tailored consulting study or report. With 11-50 employees and a track record of more than 500 completed contracts since 2002, Science-Metrix operates as a specialized boutique within Elsevier's broader research analytics portfolio, alongside Plum Analytics, Mendeley, SSRN, bepress, Aries Systems, and 1science. Go-to-market relies on direct enterprise engagement, peer-reviewed publications, conference participation (ISSI, STI), and the firm's website.

Name

Science-Metrix

Legal name

Science-Metrix Inc.

Website

https://science-metrix.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Science-Metrix is a Montreal-based bibliometric research evaluation firm serving government agencies, research councils, international organizations, and universities. Acquired by Elsevier in 2018, it delivers specialized bibliometric analysis, tailored study design, and proprietary indicator and tool development using its own journal classification system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Evaluation and Bibliometric Analysis Services: Science-Metrix provides analytical and consulting services to support performance measurement for S&T, R&D, and innovation activities. The company pairs bibliometric data with advanced analytical solutions and complementary data sources to create tailored studies and bibliometric indicators for clients. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts with government agencies, research councils, and international organizations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Science-Metrix provides analytical and consulting expertise for performance measurement of S&T, R&D, and innovation activities using bibliometric methods. The firm pairs bibliometric data (from Scopus, Web of Science, PATSTAT) with advanced analytical solutions and complementary data sources to deliver tailored studies, bibliometric indicators, and classification systems for clients. Services are delivered as project-based consulting engagements and reports rather than packaged software products.

Product overview

Science-Metrix is a research evaluation and analytics firm, not a software product company. It does not offer a packaged product or platform in the traditional SaaS sense. Instead, it provides professional/analytical services including bibliometrics, tailored study design, indicator and tool development, and classification systems. These are delivered as consulting engagements and reports rather than as a product suite with named software modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bibliometrics
• Tailored Study Design
• Indicator & Tool Development

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500 bibliometric, research and evaluation contracts completed for dozens of organizations worldwide since 2002
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Fraunhofer ISImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Science-Metrix leads a consortium with Fraunhofer ISI for the European Commission's three-year 'Quantitative Evidence to EU R&I Policy' project. Fraunhofer ISI provides expertise in innovation research and policy analysis alongside Science-Metrix's bibliometric capabilities.
• PPMI (European Commission project)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2021Science-Metrix partnered with PPMI for the three-year European Commission project on 'Provision and analysis of key indicators in research and innovation' (2017-2021). Together they prepared 10 policy briefs on topics relevant for EU policymaking in R&I, covering areas including big data for enterprise innovation, intellectual property diversity, knowledge transfer, altmetrics, scientific mobility, and gender diversity in research teams.
• ElseviercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 December 2018Science-Metrix was acquired by Elsevier in December 2018, becoming part of the global information analytics firm. This acquisition provides Science-Metrix with direct access to Elsevier's extensive database and data analytics resources, including Scopus. The acquisition aligns with Elsevier's organic growth strategy and complements existing analytics capabilities including Plum Analytics. Éric Archambault (CEO and founder) and Grégoire Côté (Partner and President) remained with the company in Montreal.
• Dr. Eric Iversen (NIFU)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Eric Iversen from NIFU serves as an expert collaborator for the European Commission's 'Quantitative Evidence to EU R&I Policy' project led by Science-Metrix, contributing to policy document preparation.
• Hugo Hollanders (Maastricht University/UNU-MERIT)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerHugo Hollanders from Maastricht University and UNU-MERIT serves as an expert collaborator for the European Commission's 'Quantitative Evidence to EU R&I Policy' project, contributing expertise in innovation studies and policy analysis.
• Technopolis GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScience-Metrix participated in a consortium led by Technopolis Group for the UK Space Agency project to design, develop, and implement a monitoring and evaluation program for UK investments in the European Space Agency. Science-Metrix contributed the bibliometric and technometric components while Technopolis led the overall project and published the final report.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CWTS (Centre for Science and Technology Studies): Leiden University-based research group globally recognized for bibliometric research, the Leiden Ranking, and science-policy evaluation studies, frequently bidding on the same EU and national research evaluation projects as Science-Metrix.
• Technopolis Group: International research and innovation policy consultancy delivering R&I evaluation, impact assessment, and monitoring frameworks to the European Commission and national agencies; a frequent consortium partner and direct competitor to Science-Metrix.
• PPMI: European research and innovation policy think tank and consultancy that partnered with Science-Metrix on the EU 'Key Indicators in R&I' project, delivering evaluation, policy analysis, and indicator development for the European Commission.
• Clarivate: Global analytics company operating Web of Science and InCites, the leading direct competitor to Science-Metrix in research evaluation, bibliometric indicators, and science-policy analytics for governments and institutions.
• Digital Science: Research intelligence company behind Dimensions, Altmetric, Symplectic, and ReadCube, providing data, analytics, and workflow tools to funders, institutions, and governments—directly comparable to Science-Metrix's bibliometric and research evaluation offerings.

Others

• 1science: Research intelligence analytics provider acquired by Elsevier alongside Science-Metrix in 2018, building on bibliometric data and OA discovery—an ecosystem participant rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Global policy research organization conducting program evaluation, R&D impact studies, and science-policy analysis for governments, overlapping with Science-Metrix's evaluation mandate at a much larger scale.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: Large nonprofit research organization delivering science and technology management, R&D impact assessment, and evaluation services to U.S. federal agencies, comparable in client profile to Science-Metrix's government and research council accounts.
• Abt Associates: Research and consulting firm conducting program evaluation, policy analysis, and impact studies for U.S. federal and international clients, with comparable science- and innovation-policy engagements.
• Elsevier Research Intelligence: Science-Metrix's parent division within Elsevier, offering Scopus, SciVal, Pure, and PlumX; the broader portfolio overlaps with Science-Metrix's services and represents the platform into which the firm is being integrated.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ScienceMetrix
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/science-metrix-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Science-Metrix