Using a combination of two exploratory macro-level analyses this study investigates Dutch industry's research output in a range of scientific fields as published in international journals in 1993–94. It focuses on four specific scientific fields that are relevant to Dutch industry: materials science, catalysis research, chemical process technology, and environmental sciences. The results indicate that international publication activity occurs within smaller companies as well as the large R&D-intensive (multinational) firms. Industry is more likely to co-author scientific articles with public-sector researchers if the research field is peripheral to industry in terms of strategic interests and core competence. The four selected fields demonstrate noticeably different (co-)publication profiles of industry, reflecting the scientific input characteristics of those fields.