AMSTERDAM, October 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier announced today that its flagship product Scopus, the world's largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature, was chosen by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). An international government forum for the discussion of policy issues, the OECD selected Scopus to enhance the research performance analysis it conducts for its member countries as well as non-member countries in the process of economic development.

Leveraging access to the database's broad range of global content, the OECD will offer members insight on worldwide research productivity trends and potential opportunities for developing needed innovations. With the enhanced XML data provided by Scopus CustomData, such as linkage between authors and institutes, the OECD will be able to perform more in depth analysis than in the past. Scopus data will populate the OECD's print and online scorecards which members can use to assess and compare their country's research output to other nations.

The OECD will also employ Scopus to help its members get a better view of co-authorship and cross-border research collaborations to determine the role their researchers are playing in the global landscape. Using this information, policy makers, funding agencies, governments and special interest groups will be able to create more effective economic development strategies and policies.

"Science and technology play a crucial role in a country's economic growth," said Mr. Hiroyuki Tomizawa,

Principal Administrator, Economic Analysis and Statistics Division, Directorate for Science, Technology and Industry, with the OECD. "We selected Scopus for its breadth of coverage including journal titles from over 100 nations as well as its advanced features. Together, these advantages will enable the OECD to execute more sophisticated statistical analyses to guide our member countries."

"As global competition increases, countries are seeking ways to better understand evolving research trends," said Herman van Campenhout, CEO Science & Technology for Elsevier. "We are excited to be working with the OECD to help their member countries gain a better vision of the global research landscape as they strive to enhance their economic growth."

About the OECD

Established in 1961, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is one of the world's largest and most reliable sources of comparable statistical, economic and social data, spanning areas such as national accounts, economic indicators, trade, employment, migration, education, energy and health.

The OECD's 30 member countries, committed to democratic government and market economy, use this information to compare and exchange policy experiences, identify good practices and promote decisions and recommendations. Through this forum, the OECD helps governments and society reap the full benefits of globalization while tacking the economic, social and governance challenges that can accompany it.

The OECD also produces internationally agreed instruments, decisions and recommendations on topics such as bribery in international business practices, information and communications policy, taxation and the environment.

About Scopus

Covering the world's research literature, Scopus is the largest abstract and citation database of peer-reviewed literature and quality Web sources with smart tools to track analyze and visualize research. Scopus was designed and developed with over 500 users and librarians internationally. Its unique database contains abstracts and references from over 15,000 peer-reviewed journals from 4,000 publishers worldwide, ensuring broad interdisciplinary coverage. In addition, Scopus not only offers users citation information about the articles covered, but also directly integrates Web and patent searches. Direct links to full-text articles, library resources and other applications like reference management software, make Scopus quicker, easier and more comprehensive to use than any other literature research tool. For more information about Scopus please visit http://www.info.scopus.com.

About Scopus Custom Data

Scopus Custom Data provides research agencies, institutions and government bodies with customized datasets in XML format for large-scale research performance analysis. Scopus Custom Data extracts Scopus core records in accordance to each customer's individual specifications, such as date range, subject categories and geographic location. The XML data can then be loaded by customers into their proprietary in-house systems, making it possible for them to run their specific search queries and execute their own analytical techniques; providing the analyst with the freedom to formulate their own reports. It empowers them to make well-informed, unbiased resource allocation and policy making decisions.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/ ), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com/ ), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/ ), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

CONTACT: Malkie Bernheim/ Melanie Nadeau, Padilla Speer Beardsley, +1-212-752-8338, mbernheim@psbpr.com/ mnadeau@psbpr.com .

CONTACT: Malkie Bernheim/ Melanie Nadeau, Padilla Speer Beardsley, +1-212-752-8338, mbernheim@psbpr.com/ mnadeau@psbpr.com .