AMSTERDAM, March 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Elsevier's SciVerse Scopus (http://www.info.sciverse.com/scopus/) database was selected by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), a public foundation that supports the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), to assist academic and government institutes throughout Spain in the tracking and analyzing of research. FECYT, on behalf of several leading Spanish universities, the Spanish National Research Council and the virtual libraries of Spain's health system chose SciVerse Scopus because of its broad range of global content and its ability to track citations for research performance measurement.

Over the next three years, universities, research centers, governmental research institutes and local health councils across Spain will use the data provided by SciVerse Scopus. The comprehensive abstract and citation database supports their research processes and drives knowledge transfer. FECYT will also employ SciVerse Scopus to help research institutes throughout Spain get a better view of co-authorship and cross-border research collaborations to determine the role their researchers are playing in the global landscape. Moreover, by using this information, FECYT will be able to render improved support to the MICINN on research and innovation strategies and policies.

"We trust that Scopus data will help us report on achievements of Spanish institutes involved in scientific research and innovation," said Lourdes Arana, general director of FECYT. "In addition, it will enable us to obtain insight into worldwide research productivity trends."

"It is the aim of FECYT to lead Spain towards a knowledge based economy," said Martin O'Malley, Managing Director Science & Technology Sales at Elsevier. "To realize this, they need to identify opportunities and needs in their research communities and track research output. We are proud to be selected by FECYT to help achieve this."