The Romanian Academy denounces the degradation of research evaluation and the “paper mills”

The Presidium of the Romanian Academy criticized Romania’s scientific research evaluation system on Monday and called for a radical change to the criteria underpinning research funding and the promotion of researchers. The institution argues that the emphasis placed on the number of articles, citations, and journals’ impact factors has encouraged mass production at the expense of the quality and relevance of results.

In a public appeal on the responsible evaluation of research, the Romanian Academy denounces the growth of “paper mills” and the spread of predatory or pseudo-scientific journals. According to the academic body, the dependence of funding and promotions on easily manipulated numerical indicators has created a genuine commercial publishing industry.

The Academy says that the value, originality, and real-world impact of research have become secondary, while priority is given to complying with quantitative standards. The institution calls for shifting the focus from quantity to quality and reinstating qualitative assessment by experts, through peer review, as the standard for recognizing scientific merit.

Evaluation criteria are established by the Ministry of Education through the National Authority for Research. The Academy did not explicitly specify whom its appeal was addressed to.