Abstract:Research in Information Science and interdisciplinary areas suggested the formation of a growing network of international research collaboration. The massive transmission of COVID-19 worldwide especially after the identification of the Omicron variant could fundamentally alter the factors shaping the network’s development. This study employs network analysis methods to analyze the structure of the COVID-19 research collaboration from 2020 to 2022, using two major academic publication databases and the VOSviewer software. A novel temporal view is added by examining the dynamic changes of the network, and a fractional counting method is adopted as methodological improvements to previous research. Analysis reveals that the COVID-19 research network structure has undergone substantial changes over time, as collaborating countries and regions form and re-form new clusters. Transformations in the network can be partly explained by key developments in the pandemic and other social-political events. China as one of the largest pivots in the network formed a relatively distinct cluster, with potential to develop a larger Asia-Pacific collaboration cluster based on its research impact.

Key words:COVID-19, international research collaboration, network analysis, high interdisciplinary research

摘要：信息科学及交叉学科领域研究揭示了国际科研合作的网络结构发展。新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)在全球的大规模传播，尤其是自奥密克戎变异株被认定之后，可能根本上改变影响该网络形成的影响因素。采用网络分析方法，基于两个主要学术出版数据库和VOSviewer软件工具，研究了2020~2022年间以新型冠状病毒肺炎为主题的科研合作情况。创新性地增加了分析网络结构动态变化的时间维度，和使用了比例计数法作为对以往研究在方法层面的优化。揭示了新型冠状病毒肺炎相关科研合作网络结构随时间的重大变化、合作国家和地区集群的形成与重组，其原因包括新冠疫情发展中的关键事件和其他政治、社会性因素。中国作为网络中的最大节点之一，仍是相对独立的集群，其研究影响力具有形成一个更大亚太合作集群的潜力。

关键词:新型冠状病毒肺炎，国际科研合作，社会网络分析，跨领域研究