Universities do not always prioritise their scientific partnerships in the same way. In times of economic or health crisis, the balance tilts towards collaboration with hospitals. By contrast, during periods of economic growth, science tends to align more closely with industry. This study examines these patterns through the lens of nearly half a million university publications on cancer between 2004 and 2023.

Principales conclusiones:

• Economic growth increases scientific coproduction with firms, but this tendency weakens in times of crisis.
• A higher global disease burden encourages collaboration with hospitals.
• Even during public health emergencies, strong economic performance keeps science oriented toward the market.

How can science policy ensure that collaboration with social actors does not depend solely on the economic cycle?

Joaquín M Azagra-Caro & Alfredo Yegros-Yegros (2025). University scientific coproduction becomes more social in economic crisis, Research Evaluation, 34, rvaf041.