3D Printing: A Scientometric Assessment of Global Publications Output during 2007-16

Brij Mohan Gupta; Surinder Mohan Dhawan

doi:10.14429/djlit.38.4.12300

Brij Mohan Gupta CSIR- NISTADS, Delhi
Surinder Mohan Dhawan CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Delhi

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.38.4.12300

Keywords: 3D printing, Materials science, Global publications, Scientometrics, Bibliometrics

Abstract

The papers provides quantitative and qualitative description of three dimensional (3D) printing research based on global publications output (7309 publications) in the field as indexed in Scopus database covering the 10-year period 2007-2016. 3D printing research registered 54.61 per cent growth per annum and averaged 10.59 citations per papers in 10 years, and bulk of global output (93.79 %) in the field emanates from just top 16 countries. The papers further provides an insight into qualitative performance of 3D printing research in terms of relative citation index, citations per papers, highly cited papers, top 25 global organisations and authors in the field, most favoured subjects in the field, and most favoured materials, technologies, and applications used in the field. The study concludes that 3D printing is the next revolution in industrial manufacturing led by USA and China. Asian and Pacific countries should take initiatives to support 3D printing research through appropriate policy and funding mechanisms as well as encourage research teams to collaborate with leading international hubs in 3D printing research.

Author Biographies

Brij Mohan Gupta, CSIR- NISTADS, Delhi

Dr B.M. Gupta received his BLibSci, Associateship in Documentation and PhD from Karnataka University. He is a recipient of the Fullbright Professional Fellowship in Library and Information Science (1999) and Fellow of the Society for Information Science (2007). Retired Scientist G and Emeritus Scientist from CSIR- NISTADS, Delhi in 2013. He has published more than 200 research paperss mainly in the area of scientometrics in journals and conferences.

Surinder Mohan Dhawan, CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Delhi

Dr S.M. Dhawan received his MSc (Physics) from Sardar Patel University, MLIS from University of New York, USA, and PhD in Library Science. He superannuated as Scientist ‘F’ from CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Delhi in 2005. He has worked for innovation supporting library transformation into digital era and in addition has successfully completed several biliometric/scientometric projects. He has authored several research paperss, research reports covering several areas of library science, library management systems and scientometrics.