The knowledge graph based on research papers can accurately identify and present the latest developments in scientific and technological (S&T) innovation and is of great significance for supporting strategic decision-making relating to S&T innovation in undeveloped areas. Based on the international research papers produced in Gansu Province during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), five metrics, including the number and characteristics of papers, co-authors, main publications and their fields, major supporting institutions, and main research areas, are established herein. The results indicate that: (i) the total of 29,951 papers were published, which is about 2.89 times that in 2010-2015; (ii) Gansu Province collaborated with 149 countries/regions globally; (iii) the top 5 journals in terms of the number of papers were Medicine, Scientific Reports, RSC Advances, Science of the Total Environment, and Physical Reviews D; (iv) the funding sources were mainly from the national level; and (5) the top 5 research areas were chemistry, engineering, physics, material science, environmental science, and ecology, which accounted for 64.7% of all papers. Finally, the present study puts forward some recommendations for the decision-making process in the strategic layout of S&T innovation in Gansu Province.