Smart specialisation in Malta: a bibliometric look at aquaculture

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.