Cities in global and sustainable scientific collaboration network: unveiling cooperation centers

In the context of technological globalization, the global flow and diffusion of knowledge are intensifying. Numerous countries and cities are integrating into the global scientific collaboration network, leading to a reshaping of the global technological innovation landscape. This analysis, constructing the scientific publication collaborations across 579 cities globally, depicts the global inter-city scientific collaboration landscape. The main findings are as follows: (1) the global scientific collaboration network is characterized by a small-world structure, signifying a high degree of interconnectedness and efficiency in scientific collaboration. (2) The global scientific collaboration network exhibits a distinct geographical pattern, predominantly concentrated in North America, Western Europe, and Asia, forming a tripolar distribution. Within these regions, cities engage in intensive scientific collaboration, creating a well-defined triad. Key global hubs, including Beijing, London, New York, and Shanghai, function as central and critical hubs. (3) Comparative analysis of discipline-specific collaboration networks uncovers significant structural differences. Specifically, the network within the ‘energy fuels’ discipline does not exhibit the small-world properties identified in networks encompassing ‘all disciplines’, ‘engineering’, and ‘environmental sciences ecology’. This variance suggests untapped potential for the expansion and intensification of the global collaboration network in the ‘energy fuels’ discipline. This analysis reveals scientific collaboration in key areas of sustainability and underscores the importance of cross-continental collaborations. This understanding is crucial for addressing global sustainability challenges and gaining strategic advantages in the new wave of international competition.