The invisible giant shaping what counts as world-class scientific research and innovation
In short: Clarivate is a massive, publicly traded analytics firm that quietly dictates the metrics of global academia and intellectual property. From calculating journal impact factors to identifying the world's most influential researchers, the company sits at the center of how science is measured, valued, and protected across the entire globe.
Formed in 2016 as a corporate spin-off following the $3.55 billion sale of Thomson Reuters' Intellectual Property and Science business, Clarivate has rapidly expanded through aggressive acquisitions. By purchasing companies like ProQuest, CPA Global, and Decision Resources Group, it has consolidated a vast array of services ranging from patent sequence technology to academic submission management systems. Today, it operates through three primary business units: Intellectual Property, Life Sciences & Healthcare, and Academic and Government.
The company's influence is perhaps most visible through its Web of Science products, which provide the data used to calculate the impact factor of scientific journals. This metric, along with its annual Highly Cited Researchers list and Citation Laureates program—which has seen 59 individuals go on to win Nobel prizes between 2002 and 2020—serves as a gatekeeper for academic prestige. These tools are designed to identify researchers whose work ranks in the top 1% of citations, effectively setting the standard for what constitutes 'exceptional performance' in 21 scientific fields.
Despite its dominance, Clarivate faces significant criticism. Detractors argue that its role in an oligopolistic market leads to anti-competitive practices, such as hiking prices for acquired products and failing to integrate new technologies effectively. Critics also point to the company's tendency to outsource jobs and eliminate direct telephone support for its services. While Clarivate continues to shape the infrastructure of global research, its business model remains a subject of intense debate regarding the health and accessibility of the academic publishing ecosystem.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Clarivate
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/culture-clarivate.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Languages · More in Cultures · Latest · A–Z · All topics
