Int. J. Technology Intelligence and Planning, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2016 51
Copyright © 2016 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
Smart specialisation in Malta: a bibliometric look
at aquaculture
G. Steven McMillan*
Penn State Abington,
1600 Woodland Road,
Abington, PA 19001, USA
Email: gsm5@psu.edu
*Corresponding author
Frank Bezzina
Faculty of Economics,
Management & Accountancy,
University of Malta,
Msida MSD 2080, Malta
Email: frank.bezzina@um.edu.mt
Debra L. Casey
Fox School of Business and Management,
Temple University,
Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
Fax: +1-215-204-7676
Email: debra.casey@temple.edu
Abstract: Malta has recently embarked on a new research and innovation
(R&I) plan called the National Research and Innovation Strategy 2020. A large
part of this strategy was to engage in smart specialisation efforts to determine
where best to allocate the country’s limited R&I funds. One of the areas
highlighted was aquaculture. The purpose of this research paper is to examine,
using bibliometrics, where the science and technological frontiers are in
aquaculture. Our findings are, not surprisingly, that Malta plays a somewhat
minor role in these current efforts. However, we also uncover areas currently
being researched that might prove valuable to the Maltese efforts in
aquaculture.
Keywords: smart specialisation; aquaculture; bibliometrics.
Reference to this paper should be made as follows: McMillan, G.S.,
Bezzina, F. and Casey, D.L. (2016) ‘Smart specialisation in Malta:
a bibliometric look at aquaculture’, Int. J. Technology Intelligence and
Planning, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp.51–61.
Biographical notes: G. Steven McMillan is an Associate Professor of
Management at Penn State Abington. His research has appeared in such
journals as Research Policy, R&D Management, Industrial and Labor