Being a joint author on a publication, networking at a conference, following and connecting with a researcher via social media or participating on a research project are all examples of research collaboration.  

Demonstrating research collaboration can be beneficial for:

• applying for an academic position or promotion.
• submitting a research grant application.
• increasing your research engagement and impact.
• increasing your research profile.

Studies have shown a correlation between research collaboration and research engagement or impact. See for example: Hsu, J., & Huang, D. (2011). Correlation between impact and collaboration. Scientometrics, 86(2), 317-324. 

Research collaboration can be at an institutional, national, industry (corporate) or international level.

Resources

Scopus and Web of Science can be used to identify research trends or leading researchers in a subject area and allows researchers to be searched by their institutional affiliation or their geographical location.

SciVal (using Scopus data) can be used for benchmarking and identifying research trends and leading researchers in a topic cluster or a research area at an institutional or international (world) level.

By determining the leading researchers in a field, can assist with identifying potential publication sources or researchers to follow on social media or to network with at a conference.