Co-evolution of international scientific mobility and international collaboration: a Scopus-based analysis

Science and technology human resources are fundamental components for enhancing the efficiency of the national innovation system. This study aims to examine the co-evolutionary relationship between scientific collaboration and scientific mobility, explore the dynamic development process of collaboration and talent flow within the global science system, and offer insights for developing suitable policies related to scientific mobility and international collaboration. The study employs Scopus data from 1788 to 2020 to investigate the systematic co-evolution of scientific talent flow and scientific collaboration from a macro and long-term perspective. The findings indicate that: (1) The global scientific flow and collaboration networks are increasingly interconnected, with a rising prevalence of international mobility and intensified worldwide collaboration. (2) Both networks exhibit cluster structures that have evolved over time, with a shift towards more random network configurations, reflecting more extensive and frequent global scientific interactions. (3) The “Matthew Effect” is observed, highlighting an imbalance with a few dominant players and many minor participants, while advanced countries demonstrate greater alignment between collaboration and mobility networks than lagging ones. Policy implications include encouraging international research mobility, supporting cooperation within scientific clusters, and prioritizing connections with global research hubs while engaging with peripheral countries.