Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID) is a global organization dedicated to uniquely identifying all individuals involved in research, scholarship, and innovation and connecting them to their contributions across disciplines and borders. Through providing researchers with a free, unique, and persistent identifier known as the ORCID iD, they are able to link to an ORCID record containing information about their affiliations and outputs. ORCID enables interoperability between researchers, institutions, and publishers, strengthening the trustworthiness and accessibility of research data worldwide while placing the researcher at the center of its mission and values.
Together, WDS and ORCID are well-positioned to collaborate in strengthening the global research data ecosystem by ensuring that researchers are uniquely identified and properly connected to their scholarly outputs. The ORCID iD helps research to be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) as it eases the process of finding and citing research, as well as easing the process of understanding researcher contribution. WDS and ORCID continue to promote the use of persistent identifiers to more effectively manage, share, and recognize research contributions, advancing the integrity and impact of scientific collaboration worldwide. ORCID joined the World Data System as a Partner member in February 2017.