Acknowledged: analysing the bibliometric presence of the Multiple Sclerosis Society

Purpose – To conduct an analysis of the bibliometric presence of a patient group, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, within its relevant biomedical sub‐field. Design/methodology/approach – Publications in the multiple sclerosis sub‐field for 1988‐1999 in the Research Outputs Database constitute the data‐set. Proxy measures, based on funding acknowledgement counts, are used to analyse the bibliometric presence of the society in comparison with other leading agencies, focusing on visibility, research orientation and research impact. The results are discussed within the frame of an evolutionary economics of knowledge production and the larger policy debate concerning the public funding of science. Findings – The society is the most frequently acknowledged funding agency and it distinguishes itself by the clustering of its acknowledgements in the area of clinical investigation. With a high and leading research impact, the society is considered an influential actor in the relevant biomedical sub‐field. Originality/value – This paper fills a gap in the literature on the public funding of science by drawing attention to the important performance and presence of patient groups as funding agencies.