ORCID stands for Open Researcher and Contributor ID.
Understanding ORCID
The full name, Open Researcher and Contributor ID, clearly reflects its purpose: to provide a persistent, unique identifier for researchers and contributors. This identifier is name-independent, meaning it remains constant even if a researcher changes their name or affiliation.
According to the provided reference, ORCID was founded specifically to address a significant challenge in the research community: name ambiguity.
Why ORCID is Important
- Solving Name Ambiguity: Many researchers share similar names, making it difficult to accurately track their work. ORCID provides a distinct ID that eliminates this confusion.
- Connecting Research Output: It enables transparent and trustworthy connections between researchers and their various contributions. This includes publications, datasets, grants, affiliations, and more.
- Streamlining Processes: Having a unique ID simplifies processes like submitting manuscripts, applying for grants, and managing research profiles across different systems.
In essence, the name Open Researcher and Contributor ID represents a global effort to create a reliable digital identifier for anyone involved in research and scholarly communication, ensuring their work is correctly attributed regardless of name variations or affiliations.
