Scientific Collaboration: Iran, World, Top 100 World's Institutions

This study aims to examine the size of research groups in Iran and to compare it with the world and top 100 worlds'' institutions averages using Web of Science data during 2011-2013. Three indicators were used including; number of authors، institutions and countries per paper. The results showed، not only Iranian scholars write less single author''s papers in compare with the world and top 100 institutions averages، but also they write less joint papers with the participation of larger groups. In addition، not only Iranian scholars do less inter-institutional research in compare with the world and the top 100 institutions averages، but also they less collaborate internationally. However، different patterns were found in different fields with respect to the three measured indicators including; number of authors، institutions and countries per paper. Scholars in geosciences are an exception، so their international collaboration are more than the world and the top 100 institutions averages. The results could be used by science policy makers especially in compiling the regulation of the scholars’ promotion.