Member countries of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have reportedly approved the formation of an Islamic Citation Centre (ISC) to be based in Iran. This was announced at the recently concluded Fourth Islamic Conference of the Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 6-8.
The ISC will reportedly develop a Science Citation Index similar to that of Thomson Scientific. This index will analyse research performance in Islamic countries in a bid to improve research output and impact. The index will rank scientific publications in Islamic countries; introduce quantitative and qualitative measures for journals; and produce analytical reports on the status of universities, research institutions and technology centres by looking at their research productivity, impact and excellence.
In addition to laying the ground for promoting scientometrics in Islamic countries, the centre seeks to promote cooperation among Islamic scientists and science and technology centres by suggesting suitable instruments and mechanisms considered necessary to make scientific information available. Funded by the Iranian government, the ISC will be managed by an executive committee headed by Iran's Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT). The MSRT will include the deputy ministers for scientific research from all of the 57 OIC members and the director of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization regional office in Tehran.
The centre is expected to be up and running in 2009. Its final development and operations will be decided in a meeting to be held in Tehran in December.
