White paper | April 2026
Research Leaders survey
Produced by
Insights from 6,000+ top-tier researchers on funding pressures, research impact, mobility and emerging technologies shaping the future of global research.
What the report covers
This interactive report explores how leading researchers across disciplines and regions are navigating a rapidly changing research environment.
Key themes include:
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Funding trends and pressures
How researchers perceive funding stability, uncertainty and future risk -
Research impact and value
How scientific, economic and societal impact are defined and measured -
Mobility and institutional support
Leadership, workplace support and factors influencing researcher mobility -
Emerging technologies
Technologies shaping discovery and research practice across disciplines
Why this report matters now
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Leading researchers are operating under increasing pressure — balancing funding constraints, expectations around impact, talent mobility and rapid technological change
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Based on responses from more than 6,000 top-tier researchers globally, this report provides a data-driven view of how research leadership is evolving and what will define success in the years ahead
Methodology
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Survey of 6,000+ top-tier researchers worldwide
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Respondents selected using the 2025 Nature Index rankings
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Pan-publisher, cross-disciplinary perspective
Access the full Research Leaders report
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About Nature Research Intelligence
Nature Research Intelligence delivers independent, forward‑looking insights that help organisations strengthen research strategy. Using comprehensive data, advanced analytics, and Nature's editorial expertise, our solutions enable partners to evaluate performance, explore emerging areas, understand the evolving research landscape, and make confident, evidence‑based decisions that drive long‑term impact.