Eurecom

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND STRATEGIC VISION

Eurecom demonstrates a robust scientific integrity profile, with an overall risk score of -0.334 indicating a performance significantly better than the global average. The institution exhibits exceptional control over multiple risk vectors, showing very low exposure in areas such as hyperprolific authorship, reliance on institutional journals, and the gap between internal and collaborative impact. This strong governance framework underpins its academic excellence, which is reflected in its outstanding national rankings in key SCImago Institutions Rankings thematic areas, including Engineering (2nd in France), Computer Science (6th), and Mathematics (16th). However, this solid foundation is critically challenged by a significant alert in the Rate of Redundant Output, a practice that could undermine the perceived quality of its research. This specific vulnerability directly conflicts with its mission to deliver "High level education" and foster "Innovation," as fragmenting research prioritizes volume over the substantive knowledge required for genuine industrial transfer. Addressing this isolated but severe issue is paramount to ensuring its research practices fully align with its stated mission of excellence and societal contribution.

ANALYSIS BY INDICATOR

Rate of Multiple Affiliations

With a Z-score of -1.161, Eurecom shows a near-total absence of risk in this area, in stark contrast to the national average of 0.648, which indicates a medium level of risk. This result suggests a clear institutional policy that effectively prevents the risk dynamics observed elsewhere in the country. The institution appears to have successfully isolated itself from the national trend where disproportionately high rates of multiple affiliations can signal strategic attempts to inflate institutional credit or “affiliation shopping.” Eurecom’s very low score reflects a transparent and well-defined affiliation practice, reinforcing its institutional identity and research focus.

Rate of Retracted Output

The institution's Z-score for retracted output is -0.005, slightly higher than the national average of -0.189, though both fall within the low-risk category. This minor deviation suggests an incipient vulnerability that warrants observation. While retractions can sometimes signify responsible supervision and the correction of honest errors, a rate that begins to creep above the national baseline could be an early indicator that pre-publication quality control mechanisms may be under strain. It is advisable to monitor this trend to ensure it does not evolve into a systemic issue pointing to recurring malpractice or a lack of methodological rigor.

Rate of Institutional Self-Citation

Eurecom's Z-score of -0.162 is statistically aligned with the French national average of -0.200, placing both in the low-risk tier. This alignment indicates that the institution's citation practices are normal for its context and size. A certain level of self-citation is natural and reflects the continuity of established research lines. The institution's score confirms that its internal citation patterns do not suggest scientific isolation or the creation of 'echo chambers,' but rather a healthy balance between building on internal work and engaging with the broader scientific community for external validation.

Rate of Output in Discontinued Journals

The institution exhibits an exemplary record in this area, with a Z-score of -0.545, which is even lower than the already very low national average of -0.450. This demonstrates total operational silence regarding this risk, indicating a highly effective due diligence process for selecting publication venues. This score confirms that the institution's researchers are not channeling their work through media that fail to meet international ethical or quality standards. Such a result protects the institution from reputational damage and shows a strong commitment to information literacy, avoiding the waste of resources on 'predatory' or low-quality practices.

Rate of Hyper-Authored Output

With a Z-score of -0.251, Eurecom maintains a low-risk profile, effectively resisting the medium-risk trend observed at the national level (Z-score of 0.859). This demonstrates institutional resilience, suggesting that internal control mechanisms are successfully mitigating systemic risks prevalent in the country. The institution's practices appear to effectively distinguish between necessary massive collaboration and 'honorary' or political authorship. By keeping hyper-authorship in check, Eurecom promotes individual accountability and transparency in its research contributions, avoiding the dilution of responsibility that can arise from author list inflation.

Gap between Impact of total output and the impact of output with leadership

Eurecom's Z-score of -1.332 is exceptionally low, indicating a strong capacity for generating high-impact research under its own leadership. This performance is particularly noteworthy when contrasted with the national Z-score of 0.512, which points to a medium-level dependency on external partners for impact. The institution's result signifies a high degree of scientific autonomy and structural prestige, as its excellence metrics are clearly driven by real internal capacity rather than just strategic positioning in collaborations. This avoids the sustainability risk associated with an impact profile that is dependent and exogenous.

Rate of Hyperprolific Authors

The institution's Z-score of -1.413 is in the very low-risk category, significantly below the national average of -0.654 (low risk). This demonstrates a low-profile consistency, where the complete absence of risk signals aligns with, and even improves upon, the national standard. This score indicates that the institution fosters a research environment that prioritizes quality over sheer quantity. It successfully avoids the risks associated with extreme individual publication volumes, such as coercive authorship or the assignment of authorship without real participation, thereby upholding the integrity of its scientific record.

Rate of Output in Institutional Journals

With a Z-score of -0.268, Eurecom is in perfect synchrony with the national average of -0.246, both of which are in the very low-risk category. This reflects a complete alignment with an environment of maximum scientific security regarding this indicator. The institution does not show any excessive dependence on its own journals, thus avoiding potential conflicts of interest where it might act as both judge and party. This practice ensures that its scientific production undergoes independent external peer review, which is essential for achieving global visibility and competitive validation, rather than using internal channels as potential 'fast tracks' to inflate publication records.

Rate of Redundant Output

This indicator presents a critical alert for the institution. Eurecom's Z-score of 2.962 is in the significant-risk category, drastically amplifying the medium-risk vulnerability already present in the national system (Z-score of 0.387). This high value points urgently to the practice of dividing coherent studies into minimal publishable units to artificially inflate productivity, also known as 'salami slicing.' Such a pattern of massive and recurring bibliographic overlap between publications not only distorts the available scientific evidence but also overburdens the peer-review system. This practice prioritizes volume over the generation of significant new knowledge, posing a direct threat to the institution's scientific credibility and mission.