Inspec Trend Review

Explore global trends and patterns for research published in 2020 to better understand the current research landscape and make strategic decisions about the direction of your future projects.

We invite you to examine global trends across a wide range of physics, computer science and engineering disciplines and explore the interconnected nature of research in our first annual Inspec Trend Review.

As the definitive physics, electronics, and engineering database IET Inspec has indexed more than 21 million articles from publishers around the world. The precise indexing for content in Inspec powers Inspec Analytics, our dynamic and intuitive research intelligence tool. Inspec Analytics utilises powerful semantic mapping to identify trends and patterns across the global research that is indexed in Inspec.

In our Inspec Trend Review 2020, we use Inspec Analytics to closely examine the top-level subject classification codes within the Inspec classification hierarchy to provide valuable insights into the trends and patterns of global research.

Our Trend Review includes the following information for each featured subject classification code:

Article output: Reveals the total amount of content published globally in 2020 and how that number compares to previous years.
Organisation output: Shows the total number of organisations that published content on this subject classification (including its descendant subject classifications) in 2020 and identifies which of these organisations published the most research. Further insight can be gained by exploring the individual organisation pages within Inspec Analytics.
Co-occurring controlled terms: Identifies which of the 10,000+ Inspec controlled terms have been used most frequently with this subject classification on items published in 2020. More commonly used terms have the greatest correlative significance, giving insight into trending topics related to the area of research.
Co-occurring subject classifications: Shows the other Inspec subject classifications which have been used most frequently with this classification on items published in 2020. More commonly used codes have the greatest correlative significance. This can be more granular codes within the same classification hierarchy, but also can show co-occurring concepts – signifying interconnected areas of research.

Content in Inspec is broken into four main sections, and each of these sections contains numerous sub-sections within the same classification hierarchy:

As we work together to engineer a better world, where will the future of research take us?

Start your own exploration by clicking any of the links in this report to begin uncovering your own unique insights using your organisation’s Inspec Analytics subscription.

Unlike other discovery and analytics tools, Inspec allows you to drill down through up to five levels of subject classification, giving you unparalleled insights. Examine specific areas of research, uncover new and emerging fields, discover relevant journals and conferences, identify potential collaborators, and more.

Fundamental areas of phenomenology [A4000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 5%, and in 2020 there were nearly 60,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 6,000 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), and Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: flow simulation, computational fluid dynamics, numerical analysis, two-phase flow, and heat transfer.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A4200 – Optics; A0000 – General; A4700 - Fluid dynamics; A0200 - Mathematical methods in physics; and B4000 - Optical materials and applications, electro-optics and optoelectronics.

Fluids, plasmas and electric discharges [A5000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 19%, and in 2020 there were more than 9,400 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 2,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften (Munchen, Germany), Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (Hefei, China), Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (Bonn, Germany), and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Livermore, USA).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: plasma simulation, plasma transport processes, plasma materials processing, plasma density, and plasma toroidal confinement.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A5200 - The physics of plasmas and electric discharges; A5275 - Plasma devices and applications; A5225 - Plasma properties; A5275R - Plasma applications in manufacturing and materials processing; and A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology.

Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties [A6000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 3%, and in 2020 there were more than 100,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 7,400 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China), and Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: nanofabrication, X-ray diffraction, nanoparticles, scanning electron microscopy, and nanocomposites.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology; A8100 - Materials science; A6100 - Structure of liquids and solids; crystallography; A7000 - Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; and A6800 - Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers.

Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties [A7000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 14%, and in 2020 there were nearly 60,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 5,800 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), Tokyo Daigaku (Bunkyo-ku, Japan), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften (Munchen, Germany), Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (Bonn, Germany), and Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: nanofabrication, X-ray diffraction, nanoparticles, energy gap, and scanning electron microscopy.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A6000 - Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties; A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology; A6100 - Structure of liquids and solids; crystallography; A8100 - Materials science; and A7800 - Optical properties and condensed matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation.

Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology [A8000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 12%, and in 2020 there were more than 194,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 11,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), and Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: nanofabrication, nanoparticles, medical image processing, cellular biophysics, and X-ray diffraction.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A6000 - Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties; A8100 - Materials science; A8700 - Biophysics, medical physics, and biomedical engineering; A8200 - Physical chemistry; A8600 - Energy research and environmental science.

Geophysics, astronomy and astrophysics [A9000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 43%, and in 2020 there were more than 77,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 7,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: NASA (Washington D.C., USA), Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Wissenschaften (Munchen, Germany), California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, USA), Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China), and Istituto nazionale di astrofisica (Roma, Italy).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: remote sensing, rocks, climatology, cosmology, and rivers.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A9300 - Geophysical observations, instrumentation, and techniques; A9200 - Hydrospheric and lower atmospheric physics; A9385 - Instrumentation and techniques for geophysical, hydrospheric and lower atmosphere research; A9330 - Information related to geographical regions; and A9100 - Solid Earth physics.

Return to top

General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science [B0000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 16%, and in 2020 there were more than 119,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 8,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), and Southeast University (Nanjing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: optimization, learning (artificial intelligence), feature extraction, probability, and neural nets.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B0200 - Engineering mathematics and mathematical techniques; C1000 - Systems and control theory; B6000 – Communications; C1100 - Mathematical techniques; and B6100 - Information and communication theory.

Circuit theory and circuits [B1000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 8%, and in 2020 there were more than 34,500 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 4,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (New Delhi, India), Southeast University (Nanjing, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), and Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: field programmable gate arrays, DC-DC power convertors, low-power electronics, invertors, and switching convertors.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B1200 - Electronic circuits; B1265 - Digital electronics; C5000 - Computer hardware; B2000 - Components, electron devices and materials; and B1210 - Power electronics, supply and supervisory circuits.

Components, electron devices and materials [B2000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 9%, and in 2020 there were more than 46,600 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 5,400 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing, China), and Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: wide band gap semiconductors, semiconductor growth, nanofabrication, III-V semiconductors, and elemental semiconductors.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B2500 - Semiconductor materials and technology; A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology; A6000 - Condensed matter: structure, thermal and mechanical properties; B0000 - General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science; and A8100 - Materials science.

Magnetic and superconducting materials and devices [B3000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 13%, and in 2020 there were more than 3,400 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 1,400 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: European Organization for Nuclear Research (Geneve, Switzerland), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China), Institute of Plasma Physics Chinese Academy of Sciences (Hefei, China), University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK), and Beihang University (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: high-temperature superconductors, superconducting magnets, superconducting coils, finite element analysis, and permanent magnets.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B3100 - Magnetic materials and devices; B3200 - Superconducting materials and devices; B3120 - Magnetic material applications and devices; B3240 - Superconducting devices; and B0000 - General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science.

Optical materials and applications, electro-optics and optoelectronics [B4000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has decreased by more than 16%, and in 2020 there were more than 26,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 4,000 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Rossijskaa akademia nauk (Moskva, Russia), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China), Sankt Peterburgskij nacional'nyj issledovatel'skij universitet informacionnyh tehnologij mehaniki i optiki (Sankt Peterburg, Russia), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), and Peking University (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: light emitting diodes, laser beams, integrated optics, nanophotonics, and optical design techniques.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A4000 - Fundamental areas of phenomenology; A4200 – Optics; B4100 - Optical materials and devices; B4300 - Lasers and masers; and A4280 - Optical elements, devices and systems.

Electromagnetic ﬁelds [B5000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by nearly 4%, and in 2020 there were more than 20,540 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 3,700 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Xidian University (Xian, China), Southeast University (Nanjing, China), Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (Beijing, China), and Tsinghua University (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: antenna radiation patterns, radiofrequency interference, antenna feeds, MIMO communication, and interference suppression.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B5200 - Electromagnetic waves, antennas and propagation; B6000 – Communications; B5270 – Antennas; B6200 – Telecommunication; and B6250 - Radio links and equipment.

Communications [B6000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 34%, and in 2020 there were more than 159,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,500 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (Beijing, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), and Xidian University (Xian, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: learning (artificial intelligence), feature extraction, medical image processing, image classification, and neural nets.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B6100 - Information and communication theory; C5000 - Computer hardware; C5200 - Logic design and digital techniques; C5260 - Digital signal processing; and B6135 - Optical, image and video signal processing.

Instrumentation and special applications [B7000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 13%, and in 2020 there were more than 91,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,200 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Chinese Academy of Sciences (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), and Hermann von Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Deutscher Forschungszentren (Bonn, Germany).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: medical image processing, diseases, learning (artificial intelligence), cellular biophysics, and medical signal processing.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology; B7500 - Medical physics and biomedical engineering; A8700 - Biophysics, medical physics, and biomedical engineering; B6000 – Communications; and A8770 - Biomedical engineering.

Power systems and applications [B8000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 32%, and in 2020 there were more than 78,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 6,456 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing, China), North China Electric Power University (Beijing, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China), and Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: power grids, electrochemical electrodes, secondary cells, power engineering computing, and distributed power generation.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: B8100 - Power networks and systems; B0000 - General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science; A8000 - Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology; A8600 - Energy research and environmental science; and B8400 - Direct energy conversion and energy storage.

Return to top

General and management topics [C0000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 50%, and in 2020 there were more than 12,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 4,100 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: North Carolina State University (Raleigh, USA), University of Washington (Seattle, USA), Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, USA), University of Toronto (Toronto, Canada), and University of Florida (Gainesville, USA).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: computer aided instruction, educational courses, computer science education, teaching, and educational institutions.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C0200 - General computer topics; C7000 - Computer applications; C6000 - Computer software; C6100 - Software techniques and systems; and C7800 - Other computer applications.

Systems and control theory [C1000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 46%, and in 2020 there were more than 146,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,300 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), Southeast University (Nanjing, China), Beihang University (Beijing, China), and Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: learning (artificial intelligence), optimisation, neural nets, feature extraction, and control system synthesis.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C1100 - Mathematical techniques; C1140 - Probability and statistics; C6000 - Computer software; B0000 - General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science; and B0200 - Engineering mathematics and mathematical techniques.

Control technology [C3000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 37%, and in 2020 there were more than 55,200 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 5,800 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing, China), Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), and Beihang University (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: mobile robots, control system synthesis, autonomous aerial vehicles, power generation control, and power grids.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C3300 - Control applications; C1000 - Systems and control theory; C3100 - Control and measurement of specific variables; C3390 – Robotics; and B8000 - Power systems and applications.

Numerical analysis and theoretical computer topics [C4000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 2%, and in 2020 there were more than 33,500 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 5,100 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, USA), Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China), and Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: computational complexity, learning (artificial intelligence), iterative methods, approximation theory, and optimization.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C4100 - Numerical analysis; C1000 - Systems and control theory; C1100 - Mathematical techniques; C4130 - Interpolation and function approximation (numerical analysis); and B0000 - General topics, engineering mathematics and materials science.

Computer hardware [C5000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 70%, and in 2020 there were more than 137,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,200 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (Beijing, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: learning (artificial intelligence), feature extraction, neural nets, medical image processing, and image classification.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C5200 - Logic design and digital techniques; B6000 – Communications; B6100 - Information and communication theory; C5260 - Digital signal processing; and C5260B - Computer vision and image processing techniques.

Computer software [C6000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 92%, and in 2020 there were more than 161,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,900 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China), and Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: learning (artificial intelligence), neural nets, feature extraction, pattern classification, and data mining.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C6100 - Software techniques and systems; C7000 - Computer applications; C6130 - Data handling techniques; C5000 - Computer hardware; and B6000 – Communications.

Computer applications [C7000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 73%, and in 2020 there were more than 157,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 11,300 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China), State Grid Corporation of China (Beijing, China), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (Chengdu, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: learning (artificial intelligence), medical image processing, neural nets, feature extraction, and diseases.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: C6000 - Computer software; C6100 - Software techniques and systems; C5000 - Computer hardware; C5200 - Logic design and digital techniques; and B6000 – Communications.

Return to top

Section E – Mechanical and Production Engineering

General topics in manufacturing and production engineering [E0000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 45%, and in 2020 there were more than 104,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 17,700 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Tongji University (Shanghai, China), Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China), Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: finite element analysis, production engineering computing, structural engineering, organisational aspects, and sustainable development.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: E0200 - General support functions; E1000 - Manufacturing and production; E0210 - Engineering mathematics and numerical techniques; E3000 - Industrial sectors; and E1700 - Manufacturing resources and products.

Manufacturing and production [E1000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 38%, and in 2020 there were more than 115,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 9,200 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China), Tongji University (Shanghai, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), China University of Mining and Technology (Xuzhou, China), and Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: structural engineering, finite element analysis, design engineering, organic compounds, and steel.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: E1700 - Manufacturing resources and products; E1710 - Engineering materials; E0000 - General topics in manufacturing and production engineering; E0200 - General support functions; and E1500 - Production technology.

Engineering mechanics [E2000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 26%, and in 2020 there were more than 79,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 6,800 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin, China), Tongji University (Shanghai, China), Tsinghua University (Beijing, China), Xi'an Jiaotong University (Xi’an, China), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: structural engineering, finite element analysis, design engineering, numerical analysis, and geotechnical engineering.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: E2100 - General mechanics; E1000 - Manufacturing and production; E1700 - Manufacturing resources and products; E0000 - General topics in manufacturing and production engineering; and E1710 - Engineering materials.

Industrial sectors [E3000]

Since 2013 article output in this area has increased by more than 22%, and in 2020 there were more than 70,000 articles indexed by Inspec.
Over 15,900 organisations published content in 2020 with the highest output organisations being: China University of Mining and Technology (Xuzhou, China), Tongji University (Shanghai, China), China University of Petroleum Beijing (Changping-qu, China), Universitas Hasanuddin (Makassar, Indonesia), and Central South University (Changsha, China).
The top co-occurring controlled terms in 2020 were: structural engineering, design engineering, concrete, microorganisms, and soil.
The top co-occurring subject classifications in 2020 were: E1000 - Manufacturing and production; E0000 - General topics in manufacturing and production engineering; E1700 - Manufacturing resources and products; E0200 - General support functions; and E1710 - Engineering materials.

Return to top

Inspec Trend Review

As we work together to engineer a better world, where will the future of research take us?

Section E – Mechanical and Production Engineering

Inspec Trend Review

About the IET

Membership and registration

Career and learning

Intelligence and research

Events

Get Involved

Impact & Society

Media Hub