[Report] What 6,000 research leaders say about the future of global science

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Research leaders around the world are navigating a period of intense change. Funding pressures, rising expectations around impact, talent mobility, and rapid advances in technology are transforming how research is conducted — and how success is defined. 

To better understand these shifts, Nature Research Intelligence (NRI) has released the Research Leaders report, drawing on insights from more than 6,000 top‑tier researchers globally. The report offers a data‑driven view of how research leadership is evolving across disciplines and regions. 


What the Research Leaders report reveals

This interactive report explores how leading researchers are responding to a rapidly changing research environment. Key takeaways include: 

  • Novelty and rigor are seen as stronger drivers of academic impact than journal impact factor—especially among junior researchers. 
  • Early-career Nature Index authors are more likely to consider leaving academia and feel they have less autonomy. 
  • Funding pressures differ widely, with applied sciences researchers reporting a more positive outlook. 

Access the full Research Leaders report here >> 

 

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