Interconnected universities symbolizing academic collaboration and resource flow.

The Academic Arms Race: How Multiple University Affiliations Are Changing the Game

Lena Kashyap in Mind & Education August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Is the rise of 'multi-affiliation' academics a sign of progress or a symptom of a flawed system? A deep dive into the changing landscape of institutional ties in academia."

In today's academic world, the institutions researchers associate with carry immense weight. These affiliations impact access to resources, networks, and crucial research infrastructure, ultimately shaping the course of scientific discovery. The prestige of an institution can significantly influence a researcher's career trajectory, making affiliations a valuable commodity.

Fueled by domestic and international rankings, universities are under increasing pressure to perform. Performance-based funding mechanisms are designed to incentivize greater research output, but could these very mechanisms be inflating the importance of affiliations and driving academics to seek multiple institutional homes?

A recent study digs into this phenomenon, providing a comprehensive, international perspective on the rise of multiple institutional affiliations in academia. By analyzing data from over 15 million authors and 22 million articles across 40 countries, the research uncovers compelling trends and raises important questions about the future of scientific research and science policy.

The Rise of the Multi-Affiliated Academic: A Global Trend?

Interconnected universities symbolizing academic collaboration and resource flow.

The study reveals a significant shift in academic affiliations. In 2019, nearly one in three articles were authored by individuals with multiple affiliations. Since 1996, the percentage of authors holding multiple affiliations has jumped from roughly 10% to 16%. This growth isn't limited to specific fields; it's a widespread trend observed across all disciplines, particularly in high-impact journals.

What's driving this surge in academics associating with multiple institutions? Several factors could be at play:

Individual Research Trajectories: Prestigious affiliations can create a "cumulative advantage," leading researchers to seek out additional affiliations to maintain access to resources and networks.
Science System Structures: Prominent public research organizations (PROs) in many countries attract academics from universities due to superior research infrastructure and opportunities.
Internationalization and Mobility: Increased global collaboration and researcher mobility foster the formation of diaspora networks, encouraging affiliations with institutions in different countries.

The study also highlights the prevalence of affiliations within the academic sector itself. Approximately 60% of multiple affiliations are between institutions within academia, suggesting a growing trend of collaboration and resource sharing among universities. However, international co-affiliations, which account for around a quarter of multiple affiliations, often involve institutions from the United States, China, Germany, and the United Kingdom, indicating a core-periphery dynamic in global research networks.

Excellence Initiatives: Fueling the Fire or Leveling the Playing Field?

The timing of this increase in multiple affiliations coincides with the introduction of competitive funding structures like "excellence initiatives" in many countries. These initiatives, designed to enhance competitiveness in international research, may inadvertently incentivize researchers to seek affiliations with multiple institutions to gain access to funding and resources. This can lead to a concentration of talent and resources in already well-funded institutions, potentially exacerbating inequalities within the academic landscape. The future of academic institutions depends on careful reform to improve research.

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Everything You Need To Know

What are the key factors driving the rise of multi-affiliation among academics?

Several factors contribute to the increase in academics holding multiple affiliations. Firstly, individual research trajectories are crucial, as prestigious affiliations create a "cumulative advantage," encouraging researchers to seek additional affiliations to maintain access to resources and networks. Secondly, science system structures, particularly prominent public research organizations (PROs), attract academics from universities due to superior research infrastructure and opportunities. Lastly, internationalization and mobility foster the formation of diaspora networks, encouraging affiliations with institutions in different countries. These elements collectively fuel the trend of academics associating with multiple institutions.

How does the prevalence of multiple affiliations impact research and the structure of scientific institutions?

The trend of multiple affiliations significantly influences research and institutional structures. Firstly, affiliations impact access to crucial research infrastructure and resources, shaping the course of scientific discovery. Universities are under pressure due to domestic and international rankings, influencing performance-based funding mechanisms. This can lead to a concentration of talent and resources in already well-funded institutions, potentially exacerbating inequalities within the academic landscape. Approximately 60% of multiple affiliations are between institutions within academia, suggesting a growing trend of collaboration and resource sharing. International co-affiliations, often involving institutions from the United States, China, Germany, and the United Kingdom, indicate a core-periphery dynamic in global research networks.

What role do "excellence initiatives" play in the increasing number of academics with multiple affiliations?

Competitive funding structures, such as "excellence initiatives," may inadvertently incentivize researchers to seek affiliations with multiple institutions. These initiatives are designed to enhance competitiveness in international research. They might pressure researchers to obtain affiliations with multiple institutions to gain access to funding and resources. This can lead to a concentration of talent and resources in already well-funded institutions, which has the potential to exacerbate inequalities within the academic landscape. The timing of this increase in multiple affiliations coincides with the introduction of these competitive funding structures.

What percentage of articles are authored by multi-affiliated academics, and how has this changed over time?

In 2019, nearly one in three articles were authored by individuals with multiple affiliations. This marks a substantial increase from 1996, when roughly 10% of authors held multiple affiliations. Since then, the percentage has grown to 16%. This indicates a significant shift in academic affiliations, with a notable rise in the number of researchers associated with multiple institutions over the years.

Are multiple affiliations a sign of progress or a symptom of a flawed system, and what are the implications?

The rise of multiple affiliations presents a complex picture. On one hand, it reflects increased global collaboration, resource sharing, and researcher mobility. However, it also raises concerns about potential inequalities within the academic landscape. The pressure from performance-based funding and "excellence initiatives" may inadvertently incentivize this trend, potentially concentrating resources in already well-funded institutions. The implications are far-reaching, influencing access to resources, shaping research trajectories, and impacting the very structure of scientific institutions. The future of academic institutions depends on careful reform to improve research and mitigate potential drawbacks.