People's Government of Nanshan District

Hundreds of scientists and scholars from Nanshan were included in the 2026 World's Top 2% Scientists List, released recently by Stanford University and academic publisher Elsevier.

This prestigious list highlights the world's leading scientists who have made a substantial impact in their respective fields through citation-based influence. For researchers, institutions, and science enthusiasts, it is a vital resource for recognizing excellence and tracking cutting-edge scientific contributions.

A group of Shenzhen researchers work in their lab. File photos

Compiled jointly by Stanford University and Elsevier, the list identifies the top 2% of scientists worldwide based on standardized citation metrics. It evaluates research impact using both career-long and single-year citation data across 20 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields to ensure fair and comprehensive representation. The selection metric, the composite indicator (c-score), accounts for the number of citations, co-authorship adjustments, and authorship positions, focusing on meaningful impact rather than mere productivity.

The entrance to Shenzhen University.

Shenzhen University had 114 researchers included on the "Career-long Citation Impact" list, with the College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering and the College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering tied for first place, each with 13 selected scholars. It had 301 researchers included on the "Single-year Citation Impact" list, spanning 15 disciplines and 53 sub-disciplinary fields, with the College of Civil and Transportation Engineering having the largest number of selected scholars, at 42.

The SUSTech campus.

The Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) had 138 people on the "Career-long Citation Impact" list and 242 on the "Single-year Citation Impact" list; Shenzhen Technology University had 9 and 22, respectively; and Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School had 31 and 50.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in Longgang and Shenzhen University of Advanced Technology in Guangming also had multiple faculty members included on the lists.

Researchers from Shenzhen have increased their presence on the lists in recent years. For instance, over the past five years, Shenzhen University's total number of researchers selected for the World's Top 2% Scientists list has grown from 182 to 309, while its "Career-long Citation Impact" list has grown from 57 to 114.

Apart from universities, researchers from institutions such as the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, the Shenzhen International Quantum Academy, Southern Medical University Shenzhen Hospital, and the Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen also made the list this year.