Persistent identifiers (PIDs) enable the unique identification of researchers and their work. They make research permanently visible and discoverable. The most established PIDs include DOI, ORCID and ROR.

DOI – the identifier for objects

The DOI (Digital Object Identifier) is an identifier established in international science that serves to uniquely identify objects over the long term. These objects include scientific articles, posters, monographs, research data – but also any other object that can be referenced digitally. This increases the citability of image, audio, film and other materials, for example.

The DOI increases the transparency, accessibility and reusability of research. It ensures that a work remains permanently findable on the internet. Since its metadata contains its own URL, which is kept up to date by the provider, the DOI is retained even if the object is moved. This enables the sustainable citation of scientific data of all kinds. This also simplifies the verifiability of research for funding organisations.

ORCID – the identifier for researchers

The ORCID ID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a permanent identifier for individuals, especially researchers and scientists. It allows researchers to be clearly linked to their organisations and works. Registration is recommended in the MUHS publication guidelines. Detailed information about ORCID is available here.

ROR – the identifier for organisations

Organisations and research institutions can register in the Research Organisation Registry, or ROR for short, to obtain a persistent identifier. This identifier links researchers and their research permanently and uniquely to their research institution and can be used, for example, in applications for funding and research grants. An ROR ID reliably prevents confusion with other organisations and supports sustainable research data management.